GSU Adds COVID-19 Vaccination to List of Required Immunizations for Students
Proof of COVID vaccination due by November 22, 2021 to register for Spring 2022 semester and terms moving forward
GRAMBLING, La. – August 25, 2021 – As of August 23, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people age 16 and over. Since December of 2020, the Pfizer vaccine has been available through Emergency Use Authorization, and more than 200 million doses have been administered in the United States.
The University of Louisiana System previously requested that the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), upon full approval by the FDA, add the COVID-19 vaccine to the schedule of required immunizations for students at Grambling State University (GSU) and other UL System institutions. LDH granted this request.
The COVID-19 vaccine is now on the schedule of required immunizations for students attending college in Louisiana. Accordingly, proof of COVID vaccination must be submitted by November 22, 2021, to register for the Spring 2022 semester and terms moving forward.
“As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, my hope is that our students, faculty and staff are continuing to keep themselves and others safe,” said GSU President Rick Gallot “Because health and safety are the top priority and paramount to approaching a sense of normalcy, I strongly encourage all students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as possible.”
Prevailing science tells us that return to normalcy depends on minimizing the impact of COVID-19 in our communities, he said.
“The available vaccines help to prevent infection—lessening the spread of the virus, and provide remarkable protection against severe disease—reducing the strain on our healthcare infrastructure,” Gallot said. “To date, hundreds of millions of doses of the current COVID-19 vaccines have been administered and have proven to be safe and effective.”
The process is no different than the process students underwent to comply with GSU’s immunization policy upon their initial enrollment. Under current state law, the requirement is:
Students must provide documentation of immunization against COVID-19 prior to the next registration period. Alternatively, students may provide one of the following: 1) documentation from a physician of medical contraindication for the vaccine, or 2) a written dissent for taking the vaccine.
Currently, students who are vaccinated on campus are eligible for a $100 gift card through the Louisiana Department of Health and other incentives through the Grambling State University vaccination incentive program. Free vaccinations are available on campus every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in T.H. Harris auditorium. No appointment is required.
About Grambling State University
Grambling State University, located in Grambling, Louisiana, is a historically black university that was founded in 1901. The institution has been accredited by SACSCOC, 13 associations, and in all programs required by the Louisiana Board of Regents. A member of the University of Louisiana System, Grambling State University has the academic strengths of a major university with the benefits of a small college. Offering 43 undergraduate and graduate academic programs, the 590-acre campus is home to world-class athletics, an internationally renowned marching band, and vibrant student life that enable our scholars to grow and learn in a positive environment. For more information, visit gram.edu.