The Delta variant and permanent approval by the Food and Drug Administration of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for those age 16 and over are tightening virus controls at SUNY colleges and universities.
The University at Buffalo on Monday announced the vaccination rule is in effect for students. If students don't get the first shot within six days and second within five weeks, they will lose campus classroom access.
Jamestown Community College told everyone on campus that mask requirements are back in place, after being eased at the end of the spring semester.
Student Affairs Vice President Kirk Young said there is some resistance among students and staff to the mask rules. Young said the campus mask rule had been suspended at the end of spring semester.
"Over the summer term, we did not require masks. We did send a message out several weeks ago to students and employees letting them know that we were reinstating the mask requirement in the classroom. But, then just recently, that was modified to requiring masks to be worn in all places, in all buildings on campus."
He said some students expected for this semester are probably not going to show up because of the mask rule.
"When the information went out about requiring masks and then, you referenced Chancellor Malatras, his information about the vaccine coming and students needing to get the vaccine, when that information went out, we did have some students that probably either did not enroll or withdrew their applications, but just decided not to enroll this semester," Young said.
Jamestown operates in a hotbed of opposition to the vaccine and masks in the counties along the Pennsylvania state line. The VP said there are some employee issues about vaccinations, as well.
"We have seen some employees that have indicated that they are not going to get the vaccination," Young said. "We have surveyed all of our full-time employees and most of our part-time employees. We will conclude that survey here shortly. We find that an extremely high rate of vaccination among our employees."
SUNY policy only encourages faculty and staff to be vaccinated. It is not a mandate.
