NORFOLK, Virginia – The University of Virginia announced students, faculty and staff will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the spring semester.

“It’s clear that COVID-19 vaccines are becoming less effective at preventing infections over time. In addition, we are concerned about the increase in cases in Virginia and around the world, as well as the early indications that the new omicron variant is significantly more contagious than previous variants of the virus, ”the university said on its website.

This requirement follows a growing number of universities and businesses now requiring booster injections.

For example, The Metropolitan Opera in New York now requires performers, staff and the public to show that they have received a booster injection in order to go to a performance.

News 3 inquired at several local universities. Here’s what they said:

Old Dominion University – Since the start of the school year, Old Dominion University has required students to be fully immunized or request an exemption for medical reasons or religious beliefs. Unvaccinated people with a medical or religious exemption are required to test 72 hours before the start of their in-person class and upload negative results to the Monarch Wellness Portal before returning to campus for the spring semester. All residential students with religious or medical exemptions must take a test before to return to campus and upload a negative test result by January 5, 2022. In addition, all new residential students with an approved religious or medical exemption will be tested before moving into the hallways.

Vaccine boosters have been offered on campus since October but have not been required. We continue to monitor and follow guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virginia Department of Health. “

Guillaume and Marie– “William & Mary’s public health advisory team encouraged community members to get COVID-19 vaccine boosters as soon as they are eligible, in order to best protect themselves and offer the best chance of continue uninterrupted teaching and learning. The team is closely monitoring the COVID-19 landscape as the university begins to retire for the holiday season. All operational decisions affecting the spring semester, which begins for undergraduates on January 26, will be announced after the reopening of William & Mary on January 3.

Norfolk State University– “The university has demanded that all students be tested upon returning to campus for the spring semester of 2022. All students and faculty must be fully immunized, unless they have a medical or religious exemption. approved. “

Christopher Newport University – “We monitor CDC and VDH guidelines and statistics, especially for the Newport News area. We are also aware of actions taken by other public universities in Virginia. At this point, we have nothing to announce. The university management meets during the holidays and I will get back to you if there is any news.

Over 95% of our students, faculty and staff are vaccinated and our most recent dashboard update [cnu.edu] indicates very few active cases, ”said a spokesperson.

News 3 spoke with Dr Parham Jaberi of the Virginia Department of Health about the science behind the booster shots. “We know the longer the time, the weaker the immunity,” he said. “It’s not an on-off switch. It gradually decreases protection over time.”

The CDC always refers to a person as being fully vaccinated after receiving two injections of Moderna or Pfizer and after one injection of Johnson & Johnson. Could this terminology change?

“We’re going to have to wait and see what the CDC does. Does fully immunized now mean a booster? If this disease becomes rampant and is in our society year after year, does fully immunization mean you have a chance this year? At this point we’re going to have to wait and see, ”Jaberi said.