COVID Vaccine is Encouraged but Not Required for Fall 2023

The following message was sent to the WPI Community:

Dear WPI Community,     
   
We hope you’re doing well and staying healthy. We are writing with an update to WPI’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements.   
  
Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, WPI has monitored COVID-19 through the work of the Coronavirus Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Coronavirus Monitoring Group (CMG). These cross-functional teams have tracked coronavirus activity across the country, in our region and state, and on our campus. Our goals have been to reduce the outbreaks of the disease among students, faculty, and staff; and to reduce severe symptomatic illness and hospitalizations in individuals on and off campus.   
  
Through the vigilance and expertise of CERT and CMG, and partners across the university—and thanks to your continued efforts to follow best practices, including vaccination—we have weathered this pandemic together and have been largely able to meet our goals.  

At this point in time, the status of the COVID-19 pandemic has improved substantially, with cases and hospitalizations continuing to decline in Worcester and across the country. This is due to a combination of factors, including availability of vaccines and booster doses, immune response after infection, access to effective COVID-19 treatment, and the appropriate use of other protective measures.  

With the planned ending of the COVID-19 national public health emergency scheduled for May 11, 2023, and the current status of the pandemic, WPI will no longer require COVID vaccination for students or employees as of that date. 
  
WPI will continue to strongly recommend that all community members follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination, which recommend that everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines including booster doses. 
  
As always, the university will continue to base its decisions on science-driven data and will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation carefully, and make adjustments as needed. Thank you for your commitment to the safety of our community, which has allowed us to return to activities we all cherish: living and learning both on and off campus, seeing friends and family, and continuing our purposeful work to build a better world.