Carleton Is 2nd MN College To Require Coronavirus Vaccine

NORTHFIELD, MN — Carleton College Wednesday became the second Minnesota college to require that students and staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine before the fall semester.

Carleton joins Macalester College in St. Paul and a growing list of other schools around the nation that will require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before the fall semester begins.

"In order to offer the best protection against disease transmission in our campus community, we intend to require students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 upon return for Fall Term 2021," Carleton College President Steve Poskanzer wrote in a message to students and staff Wednesday.

"In light of our congregate living environment and educational mission, there is a strong ethical rationale for and public health benefit in requiring such vaccination. We also will continue to require the flu vaccine for our community. We will, however, consider and manage requests for exemptions from these vaccination requirements in accordance with applicable state and federal law."

Minnesota law already requires college students to be immunized against tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps, and rubella.

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