Students and staff are no longer required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be on campus after the Los Rios Community College Board of Trustees voted 4-3 to repeal the vaccine mandate at their Oct. 19 meeting.
“This was not an easy decision for our board,” said Los Rios Chancellor Brian King, in an email that was sent to Los Rios students about the policy change.
Cosumnes River College students expressed their opinions about the decision.
Brenda Garcia, an 18-year-old psychology major, said that she is terrified of COVID-19 and she limited her in-person classes for this reason.
“I don’t think it’s right. I think that we should be vaccinated, especially being here on campus,” said Garcia. “If you don’t want to get vaccinated, that’s on you, but I would just hope that you would wear a mask to keep everyone else around you safe.”
Madilyn Hemenway, an 18-year-old liberal studies major, said that she preferred for the vaccine requirement to still be in place, but that it won’t affect her coming to campus.
Hemenway said she’d take more precautions when on campus now, such as wearing a mask.
Rebecca Yoseph, a 17-year-old communications major, said she would limit her time on campus now that the vaccine requirement has changed.
“I come here to hang out with friends in the library, and I’m not going to do that anymore,” Yousef said.
Isabella Coriano, 21, an art design major, said her dad and friend recently got COVID-19 and said she thought the vaccine update is a bit ridiculous.
“Honestly, I wish they kept it because I feel like in this state and city specifically, there are a lot of people who still get COVID and people who still go out without vaccinations or masks or anything,” Coriano said.
Coriano also said it’s everyone’s choice to get vaccinated and that she feels safe wearing a mask, but is concerned for others.
Gabe Ross, the associate vice chancellor of chief strategy and communications of Los Rios, said the district remains committed to the health and safety of employees and students.
“Our board has really been very consistent over the course of two and a half years, which is that they are really focused on the safety and health of our community,” Ross said. “Also recognizing that there are many students who need our colleges.”
Ross said there will be a continuation of public health conditions and if the conditions change then there will be corresponding changes that are necessary.
As to the future of the campus, Ross said, “COVID is still here, it’s not going away. There’s still people getting sick and even dying, but also recognizing that with vaccines and mitigation measures we have more tools now to mitigate the impact.”