Will other schools in MA follow Northeastern’s lead requiring student vaccinations by fall?

BOSTON — Northeastern University joined a small number of schools in the region that will require students to receive COVID-19 vaccinations before coming back to campus in the fall.

Brown University in Rhode Island, New Jersey’s Rutgers University are among the others. Northeastern is the first major school in Massachusetts to introduce a mandate for students and vaccinations.

“We expect to be back fully in-person at regular occupancy, including fully in-person teaching, and normal occupancy in residence halls and dining facilities,” said Ken Henderson, chancellor and senior vice president for learning at Northeastern.

Boston 25 News checked with UMass Amherst which is not requiring vaccinations as of this time, the same is true for Boston University.

UMass Lowell and UMass Dartmouth have no plans to require the vaccine but encourage students to do so, and Harvard University has asked students to notify the university once they have received the shots.

“I definitely think that there will be a set of dominoes,” said Casey Near, Executive Director of Counseling at Collegewise. “We saw Rutgers announce this first as a the first big public university it was really just a matter of time before they get their ducks in order and make official statements.”

Northeastern officials said the university will assist international students or others who are unable to access vaccine if needed.

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