As vaccines become more available and the prevalence of the virus declines or holds steady in Virginia and many parts of the country, federal and state officials have made several announcements over the past week that will affect UVA’s public health policies and practices going forward.
On Monday, the Attorney General of Virginia issued an opinion stating that colleges and universities have the legal authority to require people who live, learn, or work in-person to be vaccinated against COVID-19. University leaders, public health experts, and legal advisers are evaluating that opinion and we will make an announcement as soon as we finalize our vaccine policy for the coming academic year.
Vaccines are available to UVA community members aged 16 and older now, so please get vaccinated as soon as you can to protect your health and the health of the people around you. More information about UVA’s vaccine approach is in the update below.
On Tuesday, the US Centers for Disease Control issued new guidance, which says that people who have been fully vaccinated can safely gather with others outdoors without wearing a mask. University public health experts agree with that change and we have updated University policy accordingly. This change also applies when vaccinated people are walking or running outdoors, whether alone or with someone else. This guidance only applies to situations outdoors and when social distancing of at least 6 feet between individuals can occur.
As a reminder, our current outdoor gathering policy allows for gatherings of 75 people or less, as long as the gathering space allows for every person to remain 6 feet apart at all times. Masks will still be required for everyone in larger settings, like athletics events or the University’s upcoming Final Exercises ceremonies. Anyone who has not yet been vaccinated should continue wearing a mask any time they are around others. The University’s policy on wearing masks indoors remains the same it has been all year and the indoor gathering limit is now 25 as long as physical distancing is possible.
UVA Health is also in the process of resuming the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, now that the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have said it is safe for use and that the risk of side effects is very low. UVA medical experts agree with the CDC and FDA that the personal and public health benefits of receiving this vaccine outweigh the very small risks. UVA Health providers will educate anyone who may receive that vaccine about the potential risks. UVA Health will also continue to offer the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines as well. More information on the federal review of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is available here.
Each of these changes is a reflection of progress we are making in the battle against the virus. We are so grateful for the many ways UVA community members are doing their part, most significantly by getting vaccinated as soon as possible and continuing to observe the University’s health and safety measures. Thank you for your ongoing dedication to keeping each other healthy and safe and to making this challenging year as rewarding as possible for all of us.
Liz Magill
Provost
JJ Davis
Chief Operating Officer
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