UNM will continue its COVID-19 vaccination requirement into the 2022 spring semester and has made it easy for students to submit their record of full COVID-19 vaccination to the UNM vaccine verification site or a request for an exemption. The UNM vaccine verification site, exemption forms, and more information can be found at Vax the Pack.
This past August, The University of New Mexico adopted the vaccination requirement, which requires all students to provide evidence of vaccination against COVID-19 or have a qualified exemption. The purpose of the UNM vaccination requirement is to help protect public health among students, faculty, and staff.
Students who do not provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or are granted a qualified exemption may be prevented from registering for courses or disenrolled on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.
The COVID-19 vaccination requirement applies to all UNM students who access UNM facilities, housing, programs, services, and activities located on the Main Campus and Academic Health Sciences Campus in Albuquerque and the Branch Campuses at Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos, and Valencia. Campus facilities include, but are not limited to, office buildings, libraries, classrooms, dormitories, research laboratories, dining facilities, student centers, athletics facilities, gymnasiums and university buses and shuttles. The requirement also applies to new incoming freshman or transfer students admitted for Spring 2022.
“COVID-19 continues to be a serious concern in our state. The number of persons testing positive has been rising sharply in recent days,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs James Holloway. “Fortunately, those who are vaccinated still remain less likely to become infected, and less likely to be hospitalized or to have a bad health outcome. The unvaccinated remain most at risk. Protecting the health of our friends and families, our neighbors, our brothers, sisters, parents, and elders, requires all of us to have the fullest possible protection that vaccination affords.”
Currently, more than 92 percent of UNM students and employees are vaccinated while the remaining individuals have a qualified exemption and submit COVID-19 tests regularly, or they work or attend classes remotely. Additionally, the UNM Vaccine Verification Program site has been updated for students, learners, faculty and staff to upload documentation of receiving a COVID-19 booster shot. The University encourages all those who receive a COVID booster shot to update their status as representative data helps greatly in analyzing trends and informing future decisions. Those who had received an exemption, but have since been vaccinated, are also encouraged to update their status.
Students may request an exemption from the vaccine requirement, based on qualifying disabilities; serious medical conditions; religious observances, beliefs, and practices; and for students registered for a complete schedule of fully online and remote classes. If you believe you qualify for an exemption, complete an exemption request form, and upload it to the UNM vaccine verification site for review. Students who receive a medical or religious exemption will be required to submit weekly COVID-19 tests to the vaccination verification site. Exemption requests are due Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.
For more information, visit The Pack is Back: A Safe Return to Campus.