BLACKSBURG, Va. – Vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer a requirement for enrollment or in-person instruction at Virginia Tech.
University President Dr. Tim Sands made the announcement on Monday in a letter to the university community.
His letter directly references the legal opinion by Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares that state colleges can’t mandate COVID-19 vaccines.
Miyares’ legal opinion reverses the preceding legal opinion by the previous attorney general, which is what Tech’s vaccine mandate was based on, according to Sands.
Sands did note that “federal regulations may still require students who work in specific settings to be vaccinated, receive the booster when eligible, and upload their health information.”
The university did note that everyone is still encouraged to be vaccinated and get a booster dose.
Some students are worried about the vaccine mandate being lifted.
“I feel like knowing everyone here is required to be vaccinated makes me feel more safe,” said freshman, Niko Paras.
Other students were happy to see the mandate lifted.
“I think it’s a great move. I think it’s going to get more people to come to Virginia Tech. I didn’t really feel like the restrictions were necessary. And I thought it was unfair that students had to get them but teachers didn’t,” said freshman, Ishaan Agarwal.
Earlier this month, Virginia Tech lifted its COVID-19 requirement for employees, in line with Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive action.
While mandatory testing for students will be discontinued, Sands wrote that the university will continue to provide voluntary testing and strongly encourage testing for those who are symptomatic or have been exposed to COVID-19.