April 13, 2021
Dear Students,
As we continue to plan for a Fall semester return to campus, we are committed to the health and safety of all members of our community. The cherished student and community experience in and out of the classroom, and our shared core value of Social Responsibility, will continue to light our Pitzer Pathway Forward, in our planning. To this end we would like to inform you that all students will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus. Students will be considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after receiving their second dose of a 2-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) or a dose of a single dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson). By adding COVID-19 vaccination to our student immunization requirements, we will help provide a more robust college experience. The possibility of an exception to this vaccination requirement will be considered only for documented medical conditions or religious exceptions.
Healthy Pitzer has been established for you to upload completed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued vaccination cards, created in partnership with Student Health Services (SHS). Students arriving from international destinations will also be able to upload vaccination documentation through the Healthy Pitzer App and are strongly encouraged to contact Todd Sasaki ([email protected]) in Study Abroad and International Programs for support. Guidelines and recommendations are still emerging for students receiving a COVID-19 vaccine abroad that has not been approved by the FDA.
Students living in California who are not vaccinated before arrival to Pitzer will need to get vaccinated upon arrival, comply with weekly (2xs) COVID-19 testing, and will continue until different guidelines are issued by LACDPH. Out-of-state students who are not vaccinated before arriving at Pitzer will need to get vaccinated upon arrival, quarantine for 10 days after arrival, and comply with weekly (2xs) COVID-19 testing.
If you are unable to obtain access to the vaccine in your local area, SHS may be able to assist upon arrival as vaccines become available. We are uncertain at this time the amount of COVID-19 vaccines available at the start of the Fall semester. Please do not wait to get vaccinated if at all possible. More information on this to come.
Any questions or concerns related to the COVID-19 vaccine can be fielded by Student Health Services:
- TCCS COVID-19 FAQs section on COVID-19 vaccines
- Nursing phone appointments available by contacting SHS (909) 621-8222
- Provider phone appointments also available by contacting SHS (909) 621-8222
- 7C.Health provider appointments available via telemedicine 24/7
We also want to remind students that LA County continues to require the influenza vaccine for all students during flu season, starting around November. The College will assist students in accessing flu vaccines during the fall semester.
We are excited for the moment when we can be together again in community this fall. Thank you for your continued commitment to being “Mindful of Each Other” in our return to campus by proactively setting up your vaccination appointment and reaching out to SHS with any questions. We will continue to update the campus community as new information becomes available and/or if CDC and LACDPH guidance requires any changes to our approach and community expectations. As a reminder, ongoing student support resources can be found on our Spring 2021 Student Success Support Services and Resources Website and our One-Stop Student Support Center.
Sincerely,
Sandra Vasquez
Interim Vice President of Student Affairs
