“Students living on campus or coming to campus or any university-controlled property at any point during the spring semester will be required to have received an influenza vaccine,” Stanley said in the email. 

Along with mask-wearing, social distancing, hand washing and participating in contact tracing programs, MSU Deputy Spokesperson Dan Olsen said requiring flu shots is another way MSU is trying to make its community safer. 

“We know that influenza does exacerbate the challenges that are presented with COVID-19,” Olsen said. “And so this requirement is an added measure that we are taking with our undergraduate students to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 both on our on-campus population, off-campus population and within our community in general. … Students will be required to attest to the fact that they have received that vaccine prior to resuming any on-campus activity at the start of the spring semester.” 

Off-campus students and faculty were also encouraged to receive a flu shot, even if they won’t be engaging in on-campus activities. 

The Olin Health Center will join pharmacies and other local health care providers in providing flu vaccines. 

Stanley recommended in the email that students traveling back to campus for the spring semester should quarantine for 10 to 14 days upon returning. He also reminded students who will be living on campus or visiting it throughout the semester that they are required to take part in MSU’s COVID-19 Early Detection Program. 

More information on how MSU will enforce its flu vaccine policy is expected to come in the following weeks.

Students can get a vaccine from Olin Health Center.