Most of Colorado’s largest colleges and universities announced Wednesday that all students, faculty and staff will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before returning to campus this fall.

The announcement was made in a joint statement by the University of Colorado and Colorado State University systems, the University of Northern Colorado, Metropolitan State University of Denver and Fort Lewis College. 

DU will require vaccinations for fall semester

“Vaccines are good for public health, not only lowering rates of infection on our campuses, but also in the communities they called home,” officials wrote in the joint-statement. “Vaccines will allow on-campus students and faculty to resume their in-person experience that is critical to academic success and personal growth.

Each of CU’s and CSU’s campuses will enforce the requirement that will be finalized within the coming weeks by each institution’s respective Board of Governors or Regents.

Additionally, the requirement is conditioned upon full approval of one or more of the COVID-19 vaccines by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to the release. 

Each institution will allow religious and medical exemptions like they do for other vaccines such as measles, said Ken McConnellouge, CU’s vice president of communications.

The decisions was made after officials from the higher-education institutions consulted with state and local health departments, Gov. Jared Polis’ office and the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

Additional details will be communicated to students and employees within the coming weeks.