COVID-19 Response

As part of resuming in-person operations, we will be requiring every student to have a complete COVID-19 vaccine to participate in our program. A fully vaccinated cohort provides the greatest chance of returning to more normal operations and delivering the richest possible student experience while ensuring the safety of the entire LCWS family. While masking and distancing may continue to be necessary to some degree, having fully immunized students, faculty, and staff will provide much greater flexibility for those measures (in addition to reduced quarantine/testing requirements).

Students should send a picture of their vaccine card showing full vaccination, including a booster shot (one dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine and one dose of Janssen, Moderna, or Pfizer vaccine or three doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine) by no later than 2 weeks prior to move-in weekend, but we encourage everyone to get vaccinated at the earliest opportunity. Students will not be permitted to move in until they are fully vaccinated or have received an exemption from this immunization requirement.

All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be safe and effective at preventing COVID-19. The vaccine is readily available throughout the nation; many pharmacies, urgent care, hospital systems and county health departments are offering the vaccine. If you are unsure how to locate a vaccine provider in your area, check this CDC website.

We understand access to the COVID-19 vaccine may be different for international students. If a student has access to and receives a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization and/or World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing, they will be considered fully vaccinated.

We encourage all students to consult the below resources for information about the vaccine. If any students have lingering questions about the vaccine's safety and/or efficacy, we encourage them to speak to their healthcare provider.

If a student wishes to seek an exemption from this mandate for any reason, they must get approval from their home campus (typically vaccination exemptions are handled through the Health Services office). We will handle requests for exemptions and subsequent policies (move in testing and face mask requirements, for example) for unvaccinated individuals on a case-by-case basis, however, if you plan to pursue an exemption, please let us know ASAP.

We will continue to actively consider all impacts that COVID-19 will have on the program, and we will be sharing regular updates to help both our students and their families make informed decisions about their semester. We will continue to follow the public health recommendations and best practices. We appreciate everyone's flexibility and understanding as we navigate the re-opening of in-person operations.

If you have any questions about this policy, please email intern@washingtonsemester.org