(05-29-2021 07:40 AM)franklyconfused Wrote:  

(05-29-2021 07:24 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(05-29-2021 07:17 AM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(05-28-2021 01:32 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(05-28-2021 01:23 PM)franklyconfused Wrote:  Back to Leebron's actions: president@rice.edu announced the COVID protocols for this fall. They intend to have normal operations this fall; no more regularly remote instructors over Zoom. To achieve a 90% vaccination rate in the total campus community, all students are going to be required to get a vaccination unless they have an approved medical or religious waiver. They do not expect to give many such waivers. Foreign students unable to get a vaccine at home will receive assistance from the school to be vaccinated upon return to campus.* Employees can still decline the vaccine.

Anybody who does not take the vaccine, whether by choice or waiver, will have to do weekly testing and still wear masks at all times indoors. No masks for vaccinated individuals. They did not make a commitment for what, if any, policy changes would be made when the 90% goal is met. Students will get more info in mid-June.

* I'm curious about how they will handle the Russian or Chinese vaccines that aren't approved in the EU or US. While we may not trust that those are adequately effective, we also have no data that I'm aware of as to how safe it may be to also take another manufacturer's vaccine.

Figures!!! Question, how will they know who is vaccinated while walking around campus (without mask, distancing etc)? I mean if you "identify" as vaccinated are you? Just a thought on enforcement. FYI, I've been fully vaccinated (by choice) but I'll be danged if I'll advertise that or answer the question if asked.

I remember measles being a problem in the early 1980s and Rice requiring us to show proof of vaccination or get the vaccine.

Doesn’t Rice still do that for meningitis?

From the current General Announcements, with my highlighting.

Quote:New students may not register or attend classes until they return a properly completed health data form and meet immunization and TB screening requirements. Additionally, all first-time undergraduate students, including transfers, must meet the meningococcal meningitis vaccine requirement to live on campus. Immunizations required for admission are diphtheria/tetanus, measles, rubella, and [sic] mumps, meningococcal meningitis, with immunizations against hepatitis B and chicken pox recommended. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is also required. A late fee of $30 is charged for failure to submit a fully completed health data form by the required date.

Not to speak for Musicowl1965, anti-vaccine arguments novel for COVID, as I've seen them, accuse the emergency use authorization process of being inadequate to evaluate safety, especially given the new mRNA technology, or claim that the disease just isn't dangerous enough to justify a mandate. I haven't seen any other arguments that would not do away with all vaccines.

Nailed it. I'm definitely NOT anti-vax. I'm fine with all the immunization requirements however it has NOT been authorized for widespread use...yet. And I do believe COVID is NOT dangerous to the VAST (+95%) of college age students. So, it is NOT a meningitis equivalent. But real question is, if they are not asking for proof of vaccine how will they know. Maybe they are and I've just not seen it. Either way not necessary for college age unless they want it. It's a matter of choice but I guess "choice" is just a matter of ideology or narrative that one is pushing.