Dear students, staff and faculty:

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have monitored guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure that our protocols would keep our community safe. Because of your efforts and the vigilance you have shown in following Smith’s Culture of Care plan, our campus community has remained healthy. Now, new guidance from the CDC recommends that “everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot” as an important additional layer of protection against the Omicron variant. Booster shots also ensure protection against severe disease.   

In light of this guidance, Smith College has updated its vaccine policy to require all eligible students, staff and faculty to receive COVID-19 booster shots. Effective Friday, January 21, 2022, all vaccinated students, staff and faculty will be required to receive a booster shot within 30 days of becoming eligible. Individuals should consult the CDC website to determine their timeline for eligibility. Individuals who have already received an approved exemption from COVID-19 vaccination will continue to be exempt from this requirement. Individuals vaccinated with an FDA-approved or FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine outside the United States should follow CDC guidance for booster doses. 

The college will offer a booster clinic for students on Sunday, December 12. Students interested in receiving a booster on this date should complete this form immediately, and no later than Wednesday, December 8. More information about the clinic will be emailed to students who sign up. The clinic will administer shots based on CDC guidelines. If you are not yet eligible for a booster, please arrange to receive it within 30 days of becoming eligible.

Students must upload a copy of their updated vaccination card, reporting the date on which they received their booster shot, to the Schacht Center’s confidential patient portal by Friday, January 21, 2022 (or 30 days after becoming eligible for a booster if eligibility is after December 21, 2021). Uploading instructions can be found on the Schacht Center’s website. 

Employees will be notified in January of the process by which they should upload their booster information. Given that booster recipients can have a range of normal and expected immune responses, the college is offering one day of paid leave to support employees whose immune response interferes with their ability to engage in their normal work duties. Contact Amy Smith at asmith13@smith.edu, if you need to take advantage of this additional time off.

Boosters are widely available at most pharmacies. To find a vaccine provider, visit the Massachusetts vax finder. Please remember to bring your vaccination card to your appointment. Please reach out to covid19info@smith.edu with any questions.

We are grateful for your partnership as we navigate the changing landscape of the pandemic. Together, we are keeping the campus a safe learning environment for all of us.

Sincerely,

Kathleen McCartney
President

David DeSwert
Vice President for Finance and Administration