06/01/2023 - Changes to Caltech's COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
To: The Campus Community
From: Kevin M. Gilmartin, Vice President for Student Affairs
David A. Tirrell, Provost
Thomas F. Rosenbaum, President
Date: June 1, 2023
Re: Changes to Caltech's COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
Effective, Monday, June 19, 2023, Caltech will end its current COVID-19 vaccination requirement for all Caltech employees and students.
This decision aligns with local public health authority recommendations and state and federal health protocols. The Institute's COVID-19 vaccination requirement has been in effect since August 2021.
As of June 19, current and incoming students, faculty members, postdoctoral scholars, and staff members will no longer be required to provide proof of their full vaccination status or to have an approved exemption on file with the Institute. Consistent with this decision, contractors, temporary employees, campus affiliates, and other guests and visitors to campus will no longer need to provide proof of vaccination or to otherwise self-attest to their COVID-19 vaccination or approved exemption status.
Caltech encourages all members of the community to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines in accordance with CDC guidelines. Vaccinations and boosters are safe and proven to be highly effective in reducing the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death related to COVID-19.
The Institute will continue to monitor conditions on campus and in our broader community and will update campus health protocols as appropriate.
Please remember that all members of the campus community have access to
- free COVID-19 PCR tests through UCLA SwabSeq's voluntary community surveillance testing program.
- same-day, symptomatic testing through Student Wellness Services. Community members may request an appointment for symptomatic testing by calling 626-395-6393. While testing capacity may be limited, appointments are available 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- free N95 and KN95 masks, which are available for pick up with a Caltech ID at the Caltech store.
Anyone who tests positive through the community surveillance testing program or another testing service must report their positive test result through the Caltech COVID-19 Reporting application. Promptly reporting positive test results through this application allows the COVID-19 Management Team to follow up as appropriate and assists Institute leadership in monitoring the spread of infection within the Caltech community.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation with the Institute's health protocols.