NV Board of Health votes to require vaccinations for colleges and universities

CARSON CITY, Nev. (KOLO) - The Nevada Board of Health voted unanimously Friday to require proof of immunity from various diseases, including COVID-19 for students in higher education.

The requirement would apply to state university, community college and state college students. Under the rule, students must show proof of vaccinations by November 1, 2021 in order to enroll for the spring semester. A statement released by NV Health Response says the emergency rule does not change the existing exemptions for religious beliefs or medical conditions.

In addition to COVID-19, students must also show proof of vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps, and rubella.

Students who are enrolled in distance learning programs and do not attend a class on campus are also exempt from the requirement.

The first day of classes for the University of Nevada Reno is Monday, August 23, 2021, so the requirement will not apply for the start of the fall semester.

Public comment on the proposal lasted for hours and included hundreds of people, many offering emotional testimony against the rule.