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Department statement on Colorado public colleges and universities requiring the COVID vaccine

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DENVER – April 27, 2021: Today, Colorado Governor Jared Polis stated support of all of Colorado's postsecondary students getting the COVID-19 vaccine for the fall. This comes after Fort Lewis College, the University of Denver and Colorado College announced they would require students to be fully vaccinated when returning this fall.

"Vaccines are the gateway to ending this pandemic, that is why we all need to do our part to get as many Coloradans vaccinated as possible," said Gov. Polis. "That is why I expect that most higher education institutions will provide parents and students the peace of mind they want by making vaccines a requirement for next fall, and students want to get vaccinated so they can enjoy the full college experience. Those two or four years fly by quickly, and students have already missed out on so many important social experiences over the last few semesters."

"After discussions with our institution presidents and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), we think it's appropriate to expect our colleges and universities to require students to be fully vaccinated this fall," said Dr. Angie Paccione, executive director of CDHE. "With the recent uptick in cases and the rise in variants, we want to do what we can to protect the health and welfare of our students, faculty, staff, and communities. We strongly urge our students to get fully vaccinated and be prepared for in-person instruction and campus activities."

Within the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and CDPHE guidelines, there are avenues to approved exemptions. Get more information on COVID-19 in Colorado.

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