COVID 19 Vaccinations & Boosters

Rutgers Community Members, 

Happy new year to everyone—I hope that you had a restful semester break. 

The university continues to monitor all relevant health and safety issues, specifically COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and Influenza (Flu), and I want to remind you of the important health and safety protocols that remain in effect across the university.  

COVID-19 Vaccine and Boosters: All students and employees who have not been granted a health or religious exemption are required to be fully vaccinated, to obtain a booster when eligible, and to upload proof of vaccination and boosters to the vaccine portals found at https://coronavirus.rutgers.edu/covid-19-vaccine/. 

Face Coverings: Face coverings are not required in academic or administrative settings. Wearing a face covering is required of all faculty, staff, students, and visitors in all clinical settings. While masking is optional in academic and administrative settings, we do encourage it.    

Testing for Non-vaccinated Students and Employees: Students and employees with medical or religious waivers from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement must continue to test once per week using self-administered rapid tests and upload their results to https://rtr.ipo.rutgers.edu/questionnaire/.  

Test Kit Availability: Testing kits for COVID-19 continue to be available through vending machines that are located on all campuses. All students, irrespective of vaccine waiver status, may avail themselves of up to two tests per week at no cost. Faculty and staff are entitled to free test kits and can order them at https://www.covid.gov/tests.

The university strongly suggests that before returning to campus, all community members utilize these free kits and test for COVID-19. 

Wishing you a very successful and safe semester, 

Antonio M Calcado

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Members of the Rutgers Community: 

The Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) ruled this week that, pending a further ruling, our decision to no longer require face coverings in indoor teaching spaces and libraries is in effect.  

As you may remember, our decision to eliminate the mask mandate was challenged and PERC initially held that the mandate should remain in place while it considered the challenge. The latest ruling from PERC changes its position and means that masks are no longer required in classrooms or libraries, pending any further ruling. 

Please know that we will inform you if there is a change necessitated by any further decision. 

Face coverings continue to be required in all clinical settings. Where masks are optional, we encourage all individuals who prefer to wear them to do so, and we fully respect that personal decision. 

Antonio M. Calcado  

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 

Members of the Rutgers Community:

In response to objections raised by three of our faculty unions (AAUP-AFT, AAUP-BHSNJ, and PTLFC), a designee of the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) has today temporarily reinstated that part of the university mask mandate requiring all individuals to wear face coverings in our libraries. The PERC order also allows individual faculty members to require that face coverings be worn in indoor teaching spaces.

The PERC order was the result of an action filed by the unions late Friday afternoon seeking to restrain the university from implementing and enforcing the revised COVID-19 policy announced on Monday, September 26. Certainly, our decision to lift the mask mandate was based on current state and federal practices and is rooted in science and data.

Today’s action by PERC is temporary and will remain in place until a final decision is made by PERC following its consideration of the submissions by the university and the unions. The university is confident that its September 26 announcement was consistent with all applicable state and federal laws.

Antonio M. Calcado
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Members of the Rutgers Community: 

As the COVID-19 virus continues to move from pandemic toward endemic, we are eager to return the university to normal operations as much as responsibly possible. In doing so, we continue to take prudent steps to mitigate the effects of this virus so our students can enjoy a vibrant, in-person college experience.  

I am writing to announce that we are making several significant updates to our COVID-19 protocols, effective October 1, 2022. We are making these changes after careful consultation with our own medical experts and in recognition of a stable public health situation on our campuses and across the state. 

Face coverings: Although they will continue to be required in all clinical settings, face coverings will no longer be required in indoor teaching spaces and libraries. Where masks are optional, we encourage all individuals who prefer to wear them to do so, and we fully respect that personal decision. Further, as the pandemic remains fluid, the university is prepared to revisit this change in protocol should future public health conditions warrant. 

Vaccines and boosters: All students and employees are required to be fully vaccinated, obtain a booster when eligible, and upload records to the university vaccine portal. There is no change in this requirement. The university urges all members of its community to obtain vaccination boosters as soon as eligibility permits. See CDC guidance for information. 

Testing for Covered Individuals with waivers: Covered Individuals with medical or religious waivers must continue to test; however, once-weekly testing with self-administered rapid (antigen) tests is now required instead of twice-weekly PCR testing.  Test results must be uploaded here. 

Testing for individuals with waivers: Students and employees with medical or religious waivers who are not Covered Individuals must continue to test once per week, but now through self-administered rapid (antigen) tests instead of PCR testing, and must upload their results here.

Test Kits: Rutgers will transition to self-administered rapid (antigen) tests, which will be available through the established test kit vending machines. Individuals with waivers must upload test results by way of an attestation; results must be uploaded here. All students, irrespective of waiver status, may avail themselves of up to two tests per week and upload their results here. 

Events: Events, both indoor and outdoor, will no longer require attendees to show proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. 

Vaccine requirements for contractors, volunteers, and others: Existing protocols remain in place. Please review the current university policy that addresses vaccination requirements for volunteers, contractors, guest lecturers, camp participants, and others. The FAQs about the policy are also helpful. 

COVID-19 Vaccinations: Although our vaccination requirements remain in place, the university will no longer offer COVID-19 vaccinations or boosters on campus, as these are readily available at pharmacies, clinics, and physician offices. Rutgers’ COVID-19 vaccination locations will be closed by September 30.   

Flu Vaccinations: While the flu vaccine is only required for Covered Individuals, receiving an annual flu shot continues to be an important part of community health.  Students should contact their local Student Health office for flu vaccine information. Faculty and staff of Rutgers–New Brunswick, Rutgers–Newark, and Rutgers–Camden should visit the Occupational Health Department site for information regarding this year’s university flu shot program. RBHS employees can find flu vaccine information here. 

As we make these changes, please be assured that the university will continue to monitor the data associated with COVID-19 and the guidance of state and federal health agencies. I salute and thank all those at Rutgers who have played a role in keeping our community healthy and safe throughout the past two and a half years. 

Best wishes for good health and a successful semester.  

Antonio M. Calcado 

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 

Rutgers Community Members: 

As we return for the fall semester and a full repopulation of our campuses, we continue to monitor the effects of the COVID-19 and the monkeypox viruses. Each is different and unique, but both have tremendous potential to affect the health and well-being of our community. 

With respect to COVID-19, the BA.5 subvariant of Omicron continues to spread throughout our population in New Jersey and across the country. The good news is that the spread does not correlate to hospitalizations, intensive care unit beds, or deaths. In fact, the increased hospitalizations being reported are primarily hospitalizations with COVID-19, rather than hospitalizations for COVID-19. At Rutgers, we attribute that to the communitywide mitigation efforts we put in place over the last two years, including, but not limited to, mandatory vaccination, testing, quarantine, and contact tracing. 

Please review the following information about COVID-19 and monkeypox as you prepare for the new semester. 

COVID-19 Protocols  

It is clear that the COVID-19 virus, in some form, is now a permanent part of our daily lives. As the virus moves from pandemic to endemic, Rutgers continues to maintain its COVID-19 safety protocols on face coverings, vaccines and boosters, testing, and quarantining and isolation. As a reminder, I would direct you to the following protocols in particular: 

Face coverings: Face coverings are required in all indoor teaching spaces, libraries, and clinical settings. Compliance is mandatory. 

Vaccines and boosters: All students and employees are required to be fully vaccinated, obtain a booster when eligible, and upload records to the university vaccine portal. 

Events: All indoor events require attendees to show proof of full vaccination or a COVID-19 negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to the event. Face coverings are no longer required at events. There are no restrictions imposed on outdoor events. 

Vaccine requirements for contractors, volunteers, and others: Please review the current university policy that addresses vaccination requirements for volunteers, contractors, guest lecturers, and others. The FAQ about the policy is also helpful. 

Monkeypox 

 The monkeypox virus is a significant new public health concern in the U.S. that should be taken seriously. It is very different from COVID-19. Unlike COVID-19, which is very contagious and is spread primarily via a respiratory route, monkeypox is much less contagious and is typically spread through close skin-to-skin contact with an infected person and not by casual exposure.  

Commercial testing for those presenting symptoms and antiviral treatments are already available. Additionally, there is a safe and effective monkeypox vaccine, which can be given even in the first few days after exposure. However, both antiviral treatments and vaccine are still in short supply. Individuals should contact and consult with their physicians if they suspect that they may have contracted or been exposed to monkeypox. The university does not have access to monkeypox vaccine and will not be offering treatment. 

Further information can be found in Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Chancellor Brian Strom’s Monkeypox Advisory.  

The university will continue to monitor both viruses and will update these important protocols throughout the fall semester. 

Wishing you a very successful and safe semester. 

Antonio M. Calcado 

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 

Rutgers Community Members,

Since January 2020, the university has continuously monitored COVID-19 and has adapted its operations to provide a safe workplace as we fulfill our mission of education, research, and service and provide patient care. Rutgers’ initial nationally and locally recognized emergency response was enormously successful and held as the gold standard by many of our peers. 

The virus is moving from pandemic to endemic, and we are moving into a steady state where we coexist with the virus while taking appropriate steps to protect the health and safety of our community. 

The rules, regulations, and policies that helped us address the pandemic have now been updated. Many of our previous protocols have expired while others have been modified to reflect current conditions.

Measures that are currently in place are outlined below. These measures supersede the information that was contained in the Guide to Returning to Rutgers and Navigating Our Classrooms and Student Spaces documents—both of which are no longer operative. 

Please note that guidance for the fall semester will be issued later this summer.

Face Coverings

Face coverings are required in all indoor teaching spaces, libraries, and clinical settings. Compliance is mandatory.

Requirements for Contractors, Volunteers, Guest Lecturers, and Other Affiliates 

Rutgers has developed a new university policy that addresses vaccination requirements for volunteers, contractors, guest lecturers, and others. These changes are effective immediately. Frequently Asked Questions associated with the policy may be found here.

Events

All indoor events require attendees to show proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to the event, and attendees must comply with published COVID-19 protocols. No restrictions are placed on outdoor events. Information can be found at https://ipo.rutgers.edu/events.

Vaccines and Boosters

All students and employees are required to be fully vaccinated, obtain a booster when eligible, and upload records to the university vaccine portal. Information can be found at https://coronavirus.rutgers.edu/covid-19-vaccine/.

Testing

Employees who are “Covered Individuals” (defined by University Policy 100.3.1) and who have been granted a medical or religious exemption from vaccination must be tested for COVID-19 twice per week. Employees who are not “Covered Individuals” and who have been granted a medical or religious exemption must be tested one a week. Employees who test through a non-Rutgers provider must upload results to https://rtr.ipo.rutgers.edu/questionnaire/.   Instructions can be found at https://rtr.ipo.rutgers.edu/questionnaire/. 

All students who have been granted medical or religious exemptions must undergo weekly testing; in addition, clinical students must undergo testing twice per week. Students may obtain testing through Rutgers (see https://coronavirus.rutgers.edu/on-campus-testing/for details).  Students who test through a non-Rutgers provider must upload results to https://rtr.ipo.rutgers.edu/questionnaire/. 

Students and employees with valid health or religious exemptions must continue to wear a face covering.

Quarantining and Isolation

The Centers for Disease Control offers an interactive Quarantine and Isolation Calculator that provides valuable information and guidance for individuals with COVID-19 and for those who have had close contact with an infected person. The CDC tool provides guidance on face coverings, testing, and isolation. All employees and students with COVID-19 or who have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 should follow the recommendations provided by the Quarantine and Isolation Calculator.

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 (via PCR or antigen test), regardless of whether they have symptoms, should follow the advice provided from the CDC calculator, inform their campus Occupational Health office of positive test results if they are working on campus and have close contacts at work, and follow up with their personal physician/urgent care to obtain return-to-work clearance if they are not significantly improved by day five.  

Employees who are able to work remotely and feel well enough may do so, with supervisor approval, while in isolation. Employees who are unable to work remotely must use sick time or paid time off.

Students who test positive for COVID-19 (via PCR or antigen test), regardless of whether they have symptoms, should follow the advice provided from the CDC calculator, inform their campus Student Health office of positive test results if they live in campus housing, and follow up with their personal physician/urgent care. Students living on campus in university housing are urged to return home for isolation whenever possible.

On-Campus Protocols and Safety Tips

As our COVID-19 protocols continue to evolve, I remind you that using common sense and doing your part in our shared responsibilities continues to be essential. This includes staying home while sick, whether for COVID-19 or not.

Questions

Questions and concerns may be sent to covid19@rutgers.edu. 

Please stay safe,

Antonio M. Calcado
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
antonio.calcado@rutgers.edu | 848.445.2474