Students and parents walk on campus during move-in day at San Diego State University in San Diego, California on Aug. 21. Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The California State University system announced Tuesday it will require students, faculty and staff on-campus this fall to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Why it matters: The school system is the nation's largest four-year public university system, with about 485,550 students on 23 campuses. Tuesday's decision came without the Food and Drug Administration's full approval of the vaccine.
- The Delta variant is primarily responsible for the increase in COVID-19 cases across California and beyond.
Background: In April, the school system said it planned to implement a vaccine mandate after the FDA gave its full approval for the vaccines that presently have emergency-use authorization, per The Washington Post.
- Cal State said faculty, staff and students must certify their vaccination no later than Sept. 30.
- Some exemptions for religious and medical reasons will be in efect.
What they're saying: "The current surge in COVID cases due to the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant is an alarming new factor that we must consider as we look to maintain the health and well-being of students, employees and visitors to our campuses this fall,” Cal State Chancellor Joseph I. Castro said in a statement.