Returning to campus vaccinated and healthy

Dear UAlbany Community:

As I have said many times over the past 16 months, I am very proud of our community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our people have made incredible contributions through research and volunteerism—and by remaining resilient, compassionate, and creative throughout this challenging time.

Today, I am asking each of you to take the critical next step in our response: if you have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine, now is the time to do so.

In a letter last week, Provost Kim and Vice President Christakis made a strong appeal to students to become fully vaccinated before the start of the fall semester. SUNY has also launched its #30DayVaxChallenge to get as many students as possible fully vaccinated. I fully support that challenge—and want to extend the call to our faculty and staff as well. 

We are all looking forward to getting back to the things we have missed most over the past year and a half, and getting vaccinated is the best way to ensure a smooth and safe return to campus. In addition, fully vaccinated individuals will not be required to wear masks, distance, submit daily health screenings or participate in weekly surveillance testing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. They are also free and are available at most local pharmacies and healthcare facilities, so it is easy and convenient to get vaccinated.

For those of you who remain uncertain, I invite you to learn more from the CDC or SUNY experts or talk to your healthcare provider for more information.

Let’s continue to stand together as a community—as we have throughout the pandemic—by returning to campus vaccinated and healthy.

¡Muchísimas gracias!

Havidán Rodríguez
President