COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION

Important Updates to Faculty, Staff, and Students Covid-19 Vaccination Policy

On May 16, 2023, the University of California Office of the President announced revisions to the University of California COVID-19 vaccine policy, to allow students, faculty, and staff using campus facilities the option of affirmatively declining required COVID-19 vaccines without the need for approval of exceptions or exemptions. The University will still require students and employees to be up-to-date with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations, including current booster recommendations, but now there will be an option through the UCSB MyHealth Portal, under the “Medical Clearances” section, to affirmatively decline the vaccinations.

Entering students and new employees will be required to be compliant with COVID-19 vaccinations before arrival, which includes the option of affirmatively declining. Continuing students, staff, and faculty will be required to be compliant — either by having the latest booster or by affirmatively declining it — by a deadline to be established later this year.

Individuals are considered up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination if they are either:

• fully vaccinated (with the original/primary vaccine) and have received a bivalent booster dose; or
• fully vaccinated (with the original/primary vaccine) and not yet eligible to receive a bivalent booster dose

Individuals are considered compliant at UC Santa Barbara if they have provided verification of having received vaccinations authorized or approved by FDA or WHO, or have completed the Vaccine Declination Statement. 

The COVID-19 vaccine bivalent booster dose may be DECLINED by filling out the VACCINE DECLINATION STATEMENT located under the Clearances tab in your UCSB MyHealth Portal.

For vaccine questions:
 covid19-vaccine@ucsb.edu