Penn State requiring faculty and staff to prove they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State will require all University Park faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19, officials announced Tuesday.

Citing President Joe Biden’s Sept. 9 executive order requiring federal employees to be vaccinated, the university says all workers will have to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated by Dec. 8.

University officials say they are still working out exactly how employees will submit their vaccine confirmation.

“While the great majority of federal contracts impact the University Park campus, we are closely reviewing the Biden administration’s mandate and how it may apply to employees at other campuses and locations, as other parts of the University also receive government support,” said Penn State President Barron. “So, we are strongly urging all of our employees across the commonwealth to start the vaccination process now, if they have not already done so.”

Because of the federal deadline of Dec. 8, all employees who are not already vaccinated are strongly urged to start the process immediately. Individuals are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two weeks after the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, which require four weeks or three weeks between doses, respectively. Nov. 24 is the last day individuals can get their final dose to meet the Dec. 8 deadline.

Read the university’s full statement by clicking here.

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