Tufts University Requiring Coronavirus Booster Shots

MEDFORD, MA — Tufts University has updated its COVID-19 vaccination policy to require a booster shot for eligible students, faculty, staff, vendors and affiliates.

There is a rolling deadline for the mandate – people who are eligible to receive a booster on or before Jan. 15 must get their shot by Feb. 15, while those who are eligible after Jan. 15 will have 30 days from their date of eligibility to get boosted.

People are eligible for the booster if they completed a two-dose vaccine series of Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna six of more months ago or received a single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine two or more months ago.

The university plans to schedule additional on-campus clinics after the winter break to provide COVID-19 booster shots to members of the Tufts community; however, the university is encouraging community members to receive booster shots at a local clinic or pharmacy as soon as possible and ideally before the start of the spring semester.

Several Massachusetts colleges, including Northeastern University, Boston College, Bentley University, Emerson College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, are requiring booster shots for students and staff. On Tuesday, the nine schools in the Massachusetts public university system announced a statewide booster policy.