Cal State mandates booster shots for students

California State University announced Wednesday that it is mandating COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all students at its 23 campuses and is negotiating a requirement for faculty and staff.

Chancellor Joseph I. Castro told The Times that he and Cal State presidents met Tuesday to discuss the idea of a booster requirement and unanimously agreed that it was the right move amid the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The mandate is pending for faculty and staff, as talks will get underway in early 2022 with their unions, which represent more than 29,000 employees.

“This was an important thing for our campuses so we could protect students, staff and faculty during this very challenging period of time,” Castro said.

The mandate, which allows for medical and religious exemptions, requires the boosters by Feb. 28, or six months after the final dose of vaccination. It’s possible that some campuses could impose a stricter mandate, as was the case when Cal State first announced its vaccination mandate. San Diego State, for example, has already announced a booster mandate.

The announcement comes one day after the University of California told chancellors to develop a plan for safety in the upcoming semester. Seven UC campuses have delayed the start of in-person classes, and others continue to confer. A UC booster mandate has technically been on the books since July, but a letter from Chancellor Michael Drake on Tuesday explicitly stated that boosters are required.

Ahead of the talks with Cal State leaders, California Faculty Assn. President Charles Toombs said that he supported safety measures to protect the Cal State community.

“Throughout this pandemic, CFA has always privileged the health and safety of our members — and we want that for all our employees and students,” he said, especially given the unpredictability of the virus. “Just when you think you’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, you have Omicron.”

Cal State Student Assn. President Isaac Alfero supported the booster mandate, especially as the threat of Omicron looms.

“I will be working with the chancellor and CSU leaders to ensure that the rollout of this mandate is best oriented toward student success in keeping our campuses safe,” the Cal State Fullerton senior said.

Castro noted that most Cal State campuses are on a semester system — rather than a quarterly system, like most UC campuses — and have more time before classes begin after winter break.

“All our campuses continue to plan to offer in-person instruction. However, we agreed to monitor the situation and pivot if necessary,” he said.