April 8 Update on the Coronavirus

08 Apr 2021

April 8, 2021

Vaccine eligibility and distribution throughout the state is about to reach all Vermonters aged 16 and over this month. Governor Scott released a statement last week on Vermont residency and college students to clarify residency requirements and access to vaccines. Although Vermont Tech serves a largely Vermont-resident population, we also serve out-of-state students who may wish to get vaccinated while in Vermont. We also recognize that we serve students who are becoming eligible for the vaccine at different dates. We also appreciate that many of Vermont Tech’s students have already completed their vaccination rounds to meet clinical requirements in healthcare settings. To everyone remaining, we strongly encourage you to get the vaccine when your eligibility is reached.

To view eligibility requirements and find locations for COVID vaccine distribution, please visit the Vermont Department of Health website. As of this writing, the posted eligibility bands are in the graphic.

Based on the Governor’s recent college students and Vermont residency statement, out-of-state college students meet Vermont residency requirements if they have “moved to Vermont within the last six months,” and plan to stay in the state for the summer. Therefore, out-of-state students are eligible to register for a vaccination appointment based on their age band and meeting residency requirements as defined above. The Governor anticipates that registration will open to out-of-state college students who do not plan to stay for the summer on April 30, 2021, if vaccine supply permits.

The college’s advice to students is the following:

  • Register now with the State of Vermont’s COVID-19 vaccine event system and sign up when your eligibility band has been reached.
  • If you are eligible for a vaccine in your home state, if it is within safe same-day driving distance and you do not plan to stay in Vermont for the summer, you can receive approval from the Student Affairs office to travel out of state. Please contact their office to request approval before traveling.
  • If you or any member of your household identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), you are currently eligible to register for a vaccination. Contact your healthcare provider if a code is required.
  • If you already have an appointment for a vaccination, please keep that appointment.
  • If you have already received your vaccination, please notify Bob Sivret, Health Coordinator.
  • Out-of-state students planning to stay in Vermont for the summer for courses, athletics, internships and/or work on a campus should also register with the state of Vermont using your Vermont address and make an appointment when your eligibility band is reached.

The question of whether or not Vermont Tech and the Vermont State Colleges System institutions will require vaccination prior to attending classes or labs in the fall remains open. No legal decision has been reached at this time.

There continues to be a great need to wear our masks and practice social distancing as cases in Vermont rise and variants begin to take a dominant role in viral spread nationally. We must remain vigilant through these remaining weeks of restrictions to get to the other side healthy and stronger as a community. Thank you for all that you have done to keep Vermont Tech a safer place to study and work.