Note: Dated communications are archived here for reference, but may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.
Dear Members of the Notre Dame Community,
We are extremely proud of how this community has responded to each new challenge of the global pandemic. Even as we prepare for the holidays, we find ourselves facing yet another COVID complication. You likely are aware of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant both in the United States and internationally. To better position Notre Dame for the spring semester, we write to provide an important health and safety update.
According to CDC and NIH guidance, a COVID-19 vaccination booster in addition to the original vaccination is the most effective protection against the Omicron variant.
We urge you to receive a vaccination booster as soon as possible. It takes 10-14 days for the booster to take full effect. Thus, receiving a booster by January 1 will mean that you and those around you are protected to the greatest extent possible when we reconvene for the first day of spring classes on Monday, January 10.
Once you have received your booster, please be sure to upload verification—students can upload their verification here, and faculty and staff here.
Given the high transmissibility and rapid spread of the Omicron variant, we have moved our deadline for booster verification for all students, faculty, and staff to Friday, January 21. By this date, all Notre Dame community members must have received two shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or a single shot of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, plus a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster (as the CDC has determined these are most effective against the Omicron variant), in order to be considered fully vaccinated.
Those who are not fully vaccinated will be required to participate in weekly surveillance testing and to wear masks when indoors on campus. You can find information about the vaccine and booster exemption process here. Those who have already received an exemption for our vaccination requirement will be considered exempt from the booster requirement as well.
For those who might not have access to booster shots over the holidays, the University will, as previously announced, host booster clinics on campus: for students, January 11-14; for faculty and staff, January 20. To make an appointment for the on-campus clinics, students can click here, and faculty and staff here. Again, we strongly encourage you to receive your booster before the start of the spring semester.
In addition to requiring boosters, we continue to carefully monitor the local, regional, national and global landscapes and consult with public health officials. We will take additional steps as needed and continue to keep you fully apprised.
Please truly take a break over the holidays—it’s been a difficult year, and we know 2022 will bring additional unexpected challenges. May you and your loved ones experience the peace and joy of this holy season.
Sincerely,
Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., President
Marie Lynn Miranda, Provost
Shannon Cullinan, Executive Vice President