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Seton Hall University

Vaccination Requirement FAQs

Why did Seton Hall wait until now to announce a mandate? 

The HICT has carefully studied the various implications of a vaccination requirement, taking input from many members of the Seton Hall community, including several healthcare experts. We made the announcement after we conducted a thorough and appropriate review, and in time for our community to prepare for the fall semester.

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Can we see the full vaccination survey results which indicated 62% of students, 90% of faculty, and 83% of staff/administrators intend to get vaccinated?

These have been published in the May 6 weekly HICT update.

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Will this policy apply to students at all three campuses? 

The requirement applies to all students, faculty, staff and administrators at all three campuses.

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How will we determine vaccine exemptions? 

Exemption requests will be reviewed individually. 

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Will the vaccine eliminate the requirement of regular COVID testing?

The University is still reviewing the role that regular testing will have on campus in the fall and that this will be largely determined by the number of people vaccinated.

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Health experts are discussing boosters for the vaccine (maybe as early as six months after vaccination). Will we require them as well? 

The actual need for boosters has not been determined yet by public health officials. We will continue to make decisions about such matters in consultation with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance with the health and safety of our community foremost in mind.

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Will we continue to offer free vaccine clinics similar to our flu clinics annually, re: mandate?

We would be pleased to offer a second vaccination clinic on campus if there is a need for one within our community. We also remind all who received their first dose of the vaccine on April 28th that Clara Maass Medical Center returns on May 26th for the second dose clinic. In the meantime, weekly HICT updates provide information on the many ways our community can conveniently access vaccines. We will also be launching a communications campaign to encourage vaccinations.

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Most fall courses will be held in-person, so will students who remain unvaccinated have access to campus facilities?

We will be having a primarily in-person fall semester with very limited remote class offerings. While we expect and require our community to be vaccinated, we realize there will be a few exemptions, as is the case for other vaccinations. Those students with exemptions will be able to access campus facilities. We remind everyone that the surest path to protecting yourself is to get vaccinated.

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Some people say they are against mandating experimental, liability free Emergency Use Authorization medicine and will withdraw their children if their universities attempt to enforce. 

Our weekly HICT updates have provided a wealth of information about the safety of vaccines and vaccinations. We understand that some people may have a fear of vaccinations. Those who have concerns about the safety of vaccinations should consult their healthcare provider or contact Health Services at (973) 761-9175. We are providing this requirement knowing it provides plenty of advance notice to those considering their fall 2021 semester plans.

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Can Seton Hall legally require vaccinations for COVID-19 that only have an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)?
The University carefully reviewed these considerations and believes its policy is consistent with current legal authorities.

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What if I am hesitant about getting vaccinated?

Vaccine hesitancy is not uncommon. Clinical trial leaders worked hard to determine whether vaccines were safe and effective for people in all communities. All populations were represented in the clinical trials and the trials showed a remarkable level of safety and effectiveness. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to monitor vaccine rollout and collect any comments or complaints.

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What are valid reasons to trust the speed of COVID-19 vaccine development and approval?

There are many reasons to trust the speed of the vaccine development and approval. Firstly, COVID-19 vaccines became available more rapidly than other vaccines in part to a combination of innovative science, funding, and cooperation between scientists and governments. When everyone works together we can accomplish medical breakthroughs much more quickly without sacrificing safety.

Secondly, the mRNA technology used to develop some COVID-19 vaccines has been studied and refined for years; we are lucky that it was finally ready when the pandemic hit. Researchers had a head start because they’d already studied close relatives of the virus that causes COVID-19. Innovations in genetics and computer science meant researchers could create targeted vaccines quickly, and the research community freely shared information.

Thirldy, the vast toll of this pandemic made vaccines the priority for governments, companies, communities and people across the world. Large amounts of funding enabled clinical trials to be larger and enroll volunteers more quickly, and researchers pivoted from other work to study COVID-19. Because funding was guaranteed by governments, vaccine suppliers ramped up production of vaccines without financial risk. Unprecedented collaboration between many government agencies during the approval process to prioritize COVID-19 vaccines took place, which reduced redundancy and helped shorten the vaccine development and testing time.

Lastly, vaccines are subject to rigorous testing to ensure safety and effectiveness. Because of funding and collaboration, as well as a number of people willing to volunteer for clinical trials, this process could happen much more quickly. However, no safety protocols were abandoned—the same steps and precautions were taken as always. More than 100,000 people received the three authorized vaccines during clinical trials, and the trials showed a remarkable level of safety and effectiveness. While it’s true that full FDA approval may take time, the FDA only authorizes vaccines for emergency use if it’s clear that the benefits far outweigh the risks. (Things to Know About the Vaccine, Drexel Univeristy FAQ.)

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