Salem State To Mandate Coronavirus Vaccinations This Fall

SALEM, MA — Salem State will join the other eight schools in the Massachusetts State University system requiring all students returning to campus this fall to be fully inoculated against the coronavirus.

All students attending in-person classes, conducting research on campus or participating in campus life activities will need to have an approved COVID-19 vaccine prior to returning to school.

A statement from the presidents of the nine schools said all faculty and staff will be expected to be vaccinated as well prior to the start of the fall semester.

"Student safety and the safety of our communities remains at the forefront of our planning as we prepare to return to in-person learning and campus life in the fall," said Dr. James F. Birge, president of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and chair of the Massachusetts State University Council of Presidents in a statement released Monday afternoon.

Salem State students have been required to have a coronavirus testing pass since returning in the fall to show they have been tested on a weekly basis.

"From the start of the pandemic, Salem State University has put the safety of our campus first," Salem State President John Keenan said in a statement to Patch. "As part of our ongoing efforts, we are proud to join our sister universities in the decision to require COVID-19 vaccination for our students before returning to campus this fall.

The school said it anticipates a "nearly normal" return to a typical campus lifestyle this fall.

"In addition to the vaccinations, our campus will continue to follow city of Salem and Massachusetts Department of Public Health safety measures. We are excited to provide a more traditional campus experience for our students starting in September."

Northeastern University was the first major college in the state to say last month vaccinations will be required for all students, with other schools such as Boston University, Boston College and the University of Massachusetts soon following suit.

"We are sharing this information now to give students, their families and our employees ample time to make plans to be vaccinated prior to the start of the fall term," Birge said.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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