Student opinions of PLU COVID-19 immunization requirement

Kiyomi Kishaba
Opinion Editor

On April 27, President Belton informed the PLU student body that the COVID-19 vaccine will be required as part of the student immunization requirement. The vaccine has been approved for emergency use, and some students have hesitancies about receiving the vaccine.

Sophomore Alex Johannessen has not yet applied for the vaccine because of concerns about its safety. 

“I don’t agree with requiring the vaccine for the next year because of the fact that it has only been approved for emergency use,” Johannessen said. “If any of the vaccines were fully approved by the FDA I would have no issues.”

Johannessen believes a better option would be to encourage students to get the vaccine, but not require it. Junior Hannah VanHeyningen agrees, emphasizing the importance of personal choice and giving the same respect to the choice of students as to the choice of faculty, who are not yet required to receive the vaccine. 

However, there are many students who are relieved at the vaccine policy and believe it will make the return to in-person safer. Senior Henry Temple recognized the concerns some students may have about the vaccine, but ultimately supports the university’s decision.

“It will be a health requirement for attendance just the same as every student must take a language proficiency exam. However, with this rule, I think it’s only fair that PLU should offer hybrid options as well,” Temple said. “There may be students who for the last few years have attended and would not like to have the vaccine. There should be an online option for them.”

Junior Joel Robison supports PLU’s decision to require vaccines for students and hopes that policy will eventually be relayed to faculty as well. 

Junior Ally Lessard mentioned how the new, more contagious variants of COVID-19 makes the return to in-person classes even riskier. Because of these variants, she hopes the student body complies with the vaccine protocol to protect their fellow students. 

Moving forward past the pandemic will be challenging, especially for spaces like colleges that require cooperation from many individuals to keep everyone safe. 

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