NEW YORK (WBEN) – A bill in the New York Senate would require all students attending colleges and universities in the state to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
State Sen. Brad Hoylman introduced the legislation this week. He said requiring vaccinations would help limit the spread of the virus on campuses and in surrounding communities and also protect immunocompromised students, faculty and staff who cannot safely receive a vaccine.
The mandate would take effect 30 days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gives standard approval for COVID-19 vaccines. On Friday, Pfizer and BioNTech became the first companies to seek full FDA approval for their vaccine, which is currently being given under an emergency use authorization.
College students are already required to get vaccinated against several other diseases, Hoylman noted.
"Since 1991, New York law has required all students taking in-person classes to be immunized against measles, mumps and rubella. By extending this immunization requirement to COVID-19, we will be taking action to help ensure none of our universities become COVID-19 hot spots again," Hoylman said in a statement.
The senator pointed to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that found U.S. counties where large colleges and universities were open for in-person classes last fall saw a 56% increase in COVID-19 rates.
CNN reported Friday that more than 100 colleges and universities across the country are mandating COVID-19 vaccines for students before the fall semester.
Rutgers University in New Jersey was one of the first colleges to require students get vaccinated ahead of in-person classes in the fall.
