Cornell University mandates vaccine requirement for both staff and students

This comes on the heels of a similar announcement by Rutgers University in neighboring NJ from Mar. 25. It is considered very probable that other universities will enact similar measures in the near future.

According to the NY Post, Cornell also expressed that they expect in-person classes to return completely by the start of the 2021 fall semester.

"With the recent announcements of expanded vaccine eligibility in New York and other states, and increasing vaccine production, it is likely that all members of our community will be able to obtain vaccination sometime this spring or summer," said the Cornell administration in the statement.

The statement continues, "Accordingly, Cornell intends to require vaccination for students returning to Ithaca, Geneva, and Cornell Tech campuses for the fall semester."

The statement went on to mention that there will be exemptions available for medical or religious reasons.

NY State's government itself has announced that it expects to make the vaccine available for everybody over the age of consent (17 years old or older) by around Apr. 6, having caught up from a previous severe slowdown in rolling out the vaccine.