With the recent surge in COVID-19 vaccine accessibility, many Minnesota colleges are requiring vaccinations for in-person attendance starting in the Fall of 2021. These requirements ensure the safety of students and staff, and as long as vaccines remain accessible, I see no issue with the requirement.

In March 2020, the world went on lockdown. Businesses, government offices, high schools and colleges were all forced to shut their doors and find other ways to perform their duties. As a consequence, specifically for colleges, many students missed out on experiences offered in normal years, despite paying full price.

Therefore, it is in the best interest of not only colleges but also students to have a vaccination requirement in place. According to the president of Fort Lewis College in Colorado, Tom Stritikus, “Vaccines are our way of ensuring that we can be together for a normal fall semester.” And colleges are realizing this, with over 100 colleges currently requiring full COVID-19 vaccinations in order to attend.

On top of that, according to USA Facts, approximately 50% of people in the United States have, at the very least, received their first dose, and at least 31% of people are fully vaccinated in each state. These numbers are a very good indication that by late August and early September, the typical starting dates of colleges in the United States, the majority of people will be fully vaccinated.

Overall, vaccination requirements for colleges assure that students are receiving the experience that they are paying for. And, more importantly, the vaccination requirements keep everyone safe and healthy as we return to a more normal world.