HR Update

Throughout the pandemic, the University’s approach to keeping our community as healthy as possible has been informed by public health guidance and our own medical and public health experts. At this time, experts strongly believe COVID-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future, but that for most, COVID symptoms have become much less severe.

We have also learned what the vaccines do and don’t do. The COVID-19 vaccines are exceptionally effective at reducing severe illness, hospitalization, and death for individuals. However, they are less effective than originally hoped at preventing transmission. As a result, both the federal government and the state of Minnesota no longer require COVID-19 vaccination.

After consulting with numerous UMN governance bodies and a formal 30-day comment period to retire the policy, the University will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students and employees effective July 1, 2023.

The University will continue to facilitate and strongly encourage COVID vaccinations and boosters as we learn more about the length of protection offered by the various vaccines. We anticipate that booster recommendations will continue to be based on individual factors such as age, health status, time since last vaccination, and other factors, and will work with our populations to identify and implement the care that is best for them.

For more information about the University’s response to COVID-19, visit Safe Campus.

Note: this message was originally emailed to all students, staff, and faculty systemwide on June 9, 2023.