News
Eric Beerbohm named director of Harvard Center for Ethics
News
Ryosuke Takashima, Harvard College graduate, 2019-22, youngest mayor in Japan’s history
News
Ruth Simmons to Face Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Class of 2023 at Call
News
Harvard Science Center Plaza Bomb Risk Suspect Released on Bail as Government Searches for Accomplice
News
Following Schrag’s bullying allegations, Harvard affiliates ESE and EPS for a more potent anti-bullying policy
Harvard University Health Services Executive Director Giang T. Nguyen announced Monday that Harvard affiliates will no longer be required to receive Covid-19 boosters, though academics will still have to provide evidence of initial vaccination.
The University’s policy update was announced ahead of the May 11 expiration of the Covid-19 public fitness emergency in the United States. Cambridge.
According to the Cambridge Covid-19 Data Centre, which is due to prevent updates on May 11, the city has recorded around 75 new cases of the virus in the past 30 days; information is limited to positive PCR tests, while testing has dropped dramatically. since the peak of the pandemic.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services affirms that the fight against Covid-19 “remains a public health priority” but that “we can get out of the emergency phase”.
After May 11, the CDC will no longer collect or release information on the number of positive Covid-19 cases or county-level positivity percentage, as labs will be required to report those numbers. In addition, fitness insurance corporations will no longer be required. to supply loose Covid-19 tests.
The government will still provide loose vaccines, and high-risk Americans can still get Paxlovid loose from their physical care provider, pharmacist, or government.
Harvard will also remove its evidence of the vaccination requirement for new staff, although HUHS staff and other university physical care staff will still have to meet CDC recommendations to remain in effect regarding vaccines.
“I encourage all members of the network to adhere to CDC vaccination rules,” Nguyen wrote. “Thank you for diligently following public fitness rules as they have evolved over the past few years. “
The end of Harvard’s Covid-19 withdrawal requirement is the newest in a series of pandemic restrictions and protocols to be removed, with the University taking flight of its touch-tracking equipment and Crimson Clear app in December 2022, a move that has sparked mixed reactions from students. Harvard had in the past ended its Covid-19 testing requirement for affiliates in April 2022.
A HUHS spokesperson wrote that Harvard’s student health insurance will continue to provide eight immediate loose tests per month for the remainder of 2023. It’s unclear whether students enrolled in the plan will receive testing after this year.
Employees enrolled in a Harvard fitness plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield or the Harvard University organization’s fitness plan will only be able to get 4 tests per month through their insurance starting in July.
In the email, Nguyen encouraged Harvard affiliates to consider other high-risk individuals.
“Surveillance remains even for low-risk vaccinated Americans as long as COVID remains a concern,” he wrote.
Nguyen noted that other people over 65 and those who are immunocompromised can now get an additional bivalent booster. Harvard members who qualify for withdrawal may get it at a pharmacy or HUHS.
He also suggested caution ahead of Harvard’s launch events in 2023, and advised attendees to conduct an immediate check before activities and attend if they have symptoms of covid-19.
“As we have done with the pandemic, we will continue to monitor and adjust our direction as necessary,” he added.
—Editor Alexander I. Fung can be reached at alexander. fung@thecrimson. com.
Want to keep up with the news? Subscribe to our newsletter.