Officials Want All PA College Students Vaccinated Before Summer

HARRISBURG, PA — State officials are encouraging all students at Pennsylvania colleges and universities to get vaccinated for COVID-19 before the semester ends.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, in a joint statement Wednesday, said all institutions of higher education should work with local providers to ensure vaccination opportunities are available before students leave for the summer.

“As students are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, we encourage them to find a provider and get vaccinated before they travel back home at the end of the semester,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. “We look forward to higher education institutions connecting with our provider network or the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partners to coordinate vaccination opportunities for their students.”

Students do not have to be a resident of Pennsylvania to receive the vaccine here.

“The COVID-19 vaccine will allow postsecondary institutions to provide more in-person learning and improve the safety of our campus communities for our students, faculty, and staff,” said Acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega. “I encourage all students enrolled in PA's postsecondary institutions to take advantage of this available resource and get the vaccine before the semester ends."

Learn more about how and where to get a coronavirus vaccine in Pennsylvania.