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On July 1, Dr. Spencer Gregg, director of the Student Health Center at UT, sent an email to UT students, faculty and staff stating that although being vaccinated for COVID-19 is not required to return back to campus in the fall, it is highly recommended and encouraged.
According to Gregg, the email was sent at this time due to the fact that becoming vaccinated can take up to six weeks, and it is suggested that students, faculty and staff start their vaccination process now if they would like to be fully vaccinated by the time the fall semester starts.
Gregg went on to describe the benefits of being vaccinated, such as not having to isolate, quarantine or be tested if they are exposed to COVID-19 and do not develop any symptoms. For those who are fully vaccinated, and are not showing any symptoms, they will not be asked to stay away from others.
After a two-week pause, providers across the country including the University of Tennessee at Knoxville have resumed use of Johnson & Johnson s COVID-19 vaccine.
The single shot is an easier-to-use tool for fighting the pandemic in places like college campuses because patients are vaccinated in one shot.
Dr. Spencer Gregg, director of UT s Student Health Center, told Knox News he hoped to vaccinate as many people as possible by the end of the spring semester using Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines. Exams end May 6.
However, the temporary stop has made a significant difference in patients willingness to get the vaccine and how the university will dole out doses.
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The University of Tennessee will not require students at any campus to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The policy is a change in course from last summer when a requirement was considered.
In June as worries about a double pandemic appeared, the university s board of trustees passed an emergency rule making the flu vaccine a requirement for all students and employees. If one was developed, administrators said at the time, the COVID-19 vaccine would be a requirement, too.
Now, the emergency rule has expired and the vaccine is simply strongly encouraged.
After meeting with members of the UT community in recent months, System President Randy Boyd and members of the board of trustees decided against a vaccine mandate. That decision was based factors like availability of the vaccine and the emergency use authorization, UT spokesperson Jennifer Sicking said.