News Brief
Following a unanimous vote from the Nevada State Board of Health (BOH), Governor Steve Sisolak signed emergency regulations that require state universities, colleges and community colleges to implement a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for enrollment after Nov. 1, 2021.
“I am grateful to the Board of Health for passing an emergency regulation today to require students attending in-person classes at Nevada System of Higher Education institutions to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccinations by November 1 in order to be able to enroll for the Spring 2022 semester,” Governor Sisolak said. “I also want to thank the Medical Advisory Team for providing this policy recommendation upon my request and for the staff at DPBH for developing the proposal heard at the meeting.”
Earlier this month, Governor Sisolak announced he requested his Medical Advisory Team review vaccination for NSHE students and following their review, the MAT recommended that Nevada should require all post-secondary students within NSHE institutions to become fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and show proof of vaccination prior to registration and enrollment for the Spring semester.
The emergency regulations regarding COVID-19 vaccines for higher education students in Nevada will be effective for 120 days and will have to go through a more rigorous public process to be made permanent, if health and higher education officials deem it necessary.
The emergency regulations maintain the pre-COVID vaccine requirements for students enrolling in Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) institutions and does not change the existing exemptions for religious beliefs or medical conditions.
Students who are enrolled in distance education programs and do not attend a class on campus are also exempt from the requirement. Existing regulations require that a person shall not attend an NSHE institution until they submit proof of immunity to tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps and rubella.
The Governor continues to urge all eligible Nevadans to get their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines are free, safe, and incredibly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Nevadans can visit NVCOVIDFighter.org to find a vaccine clinic near them.
