California State University implements vaccine mandate for students, staff

Students and staff of the California State University system will be required to get vaccinated as classes return to campus in September.

In April, Cal State announced that they would enact a vaccine mandate following FDA approval, however that decision has been amended, and the mandate will now go ahead regardless of whether or not the vaccines receive full approval before September.

"We are making sure that at each campus, we will have aggressive efforts to vaccinate our students, faculty and staff," Chancellor Joseph I. Castro told the Los Angeles Times.

Cal State's decision comes just a week after the University of California system announced their decision to implement a vaccine mandate. Both Cal State and UC justified their policies as essential for the wellbeing of students, faculty, and other staff members as cases of the more transmissible Delta variant continue to rise.

Cal State is the largest 4-year public university system in the country, with 23 campuses across California, thus a vaccine mandate is logistically challenging.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Cal State spokesperson Mike Uhlenkamp suggested that the university's process will "largely rely on trust," however a campus could request proof of vaccination independently if necessary. It has been reported that those who do not get vaccinated, and cannot provide a religious or medical reason for exemption, "may be denied access to Campus/Programs."

Cal State has given students and staff until September 30 to get the shots.