Dear Wake Forest students,

On April 20, Wake Forest administrators communicated the University’s intent to require all students enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester to be fully vaccinated. We all look forward to the return of a more vibrant campus in the fall, and vaccinations are a key tool in accomplishing that vision.

Mounting evidence has demonstrated that the vaccines are as effective in real-world use as they were in earlier trials at limiting the spread of infection and the severity of symptoms among the few who do get infected. The CDC and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services continue to urge individuals 12 years and older to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Wake Forest University COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

Wake Forest has published its COVID-19 Vaccine Policy on the Our Way Forward website. The policy applies to all Wake Forest students (undergraduate, graduate and professional school) who reside in University housing, are enrolled in in-person classes, and/or who participate in any in-person activities on the Reynolda, Brookstown, Wake Downtown, and Charlotte campuses, and/or who participate in any Wake Forest-sponsored study abroad or study-away programs.

Students must submit documentation providing proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to the Student Health Portal by July 1, 2021. Students may submit a request for a medical or religious exemption; however, such exemptions will not apply to students studying abroad on Wake Forest-sponsored programs.

Information for Students Traveling from Abroad

The University will assist student efforts to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if they have been unable to obtain the vaccine in their state or country of residence or have received a vaccine not authorized by the FDA. The Office of International Student and Scholar Services will continue to communicate immigration and travel-related changes to international students directly. Students traveling from abroad should continue to communicate any questions related to the vaccine to shs@wfu.edu.

Additional Information for First-Year Students

Students beginning the first year of Wake Forest degree programs, at the undergraduate or graduate level, also are required by North Carolina state law to provide documentation of state-mandated immunizations (such as measles, mumps; see full list) prior to registration. Incoming first-year students can provide documentation of the COVID-19 vaccination on the required Health Information and Immunization Form (HIIF). If the COVID-19 vaccination documentation is provided by submitting this form, no further documentation is necessary.

Related Policies, Protocols, Procedures, Guidelines and Other Resources:

Your health and safety continue to be a top priority for Wake Forest. Getting this safe and effective vaccine offers an added layer of protection against COVID-19 that could also protect your family, friends and community. Please take care of yourself this summer, and Wake Forest looks forward to welcoming you in the fall.

— Communications and External Relations

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