We Are WPI

Massachusetts is administering the COVID-19 vaccine in a phased approach, with different people being eligible at different times. As of April 19, 2021, everyone over age 16 who lives, works, or studies in Massachusetts is eligible to be vaccinated. The state’s website provides information on how the public, including members of the WPI community, can obtain a vaccine. 

Vaccine Requirements

Vaccination provides the best protection against COVID-19 and provides the best chance for us to return to the daily activities that are so critical to college life.

Students

  • WPI required that all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in on-campus classes and/or conducting research in on-campus labs, whether they live on campus or off, be fully vaccinated (two weeks post their last dose) against COVID-19 by August 1, 2021.
  • All students must have entered their vaccination information into Medicat as soon as they are fully vaccinated or by August 1, 2021 at the latest. 
  • As with our other vaccination requirements, there is a process for students to submit a request for medical or religious exemption via the Student Vaccination Exemption form. 
  • WPI will give support and guidance to our international students who may not have access in their home countries to vaccines approved by the World Health Organization.

​Employees

  • All current employees must complete their COVID-19 vaccine series (i.e., two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine) and enter their vaccination information into Workday on or before October 11, 2021.
  • A new employees hired after July 14, 2021 must be fully vaccinated prior to their first day of work at WPI. “Fully vaccinated” means that the individual has received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine AND that the individual has waited the required two weeks following the final dose of the vaccine. 
  • Employees classified as fully remote are not required to be vaccinated. If a fully remote employee is expected to be on campus for any job-related tasks, they must comply with the vaccine requirement and enter their vaccination information into Workday. Unvaccinated, fully remote employees will not be permitted on campus.
  • All employees must enter their vaccine information into Workday. 
  • Requests for a disability/medical or a religious accommodation must be submitted through the Division of Talent & Inclusion by completing this form. Requests for disability/medical accommodations require medical documentation.
  • Review WPI’s COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement here
  • Employees with questions about WPI’s vaccination requirement should contact the Division of Talent & Inclusion at talent@wpi.edu. Employees with medical questions or concerns should speak with their own health care provider and can also reference information provided by the CDC and/or the FDA.

Although individual vaccination status will be kept strictly confidential, as with our COVID-19 testing data, WPI will post our aggregate vaccination levels on campus on our vaccine dashboard so our community can also track our progress in real-time.

FAQs at: https://www.wpi.edu/we-are-wpi/frequently-asked-questions#vaccines

Important Dates for Employees

In order to meet their October 11 deadline, current employees need to receive their final dose by the dates below based on the type of vaccine they are receiving:

  • Johnson & Johnson (one dose): October 11
  • Pfizer (two doses, three weeks apart): First dose by September 20; second dose by October 11
  • Moderna (two doses, four weeks apart): First dose by September 13; second dose by October 11

Important Dates for Students

In order to meet their August 1 deadline, students will need to be fully vaccinated by the dates below based on the type of vaccine they are receiving:

  • Johnson & Johnson (one dose): July 18
  • Pfizer (two doses, three weeks apart): First dose by June 27; second dose by July 18
  • Moderna (two doses, four weeks apart): First dose by June 20; second dose by July 18

Getting Vaccinated

  • Vaccination is a national priority, and every state is providing free clinics.
  • Anyone over age 16 who lives, works, or studies in Massachusetts can get vaccinated through the state.
  • You can sign up for the state vaccine program or find other sites by zip code. Some sites require appointments and some are open for walk-ins.
  • You also can sign up for a vaccination at certain pharmacies, community health centers, and health care providers in Massachusetts. You can search by zip code for these vaccination locations.
  • Local pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Walmart also have vaccine available; check their websites.
  • The information provided here is specific to vaccinations at WPI and in Massachusetts.  If you have questions regarding the vaccine itself, visit the CDC site.

Read President Leshin's messages to the community about employee vaccination requirements and student vaccination requirements as we head toward a more robust return to in-person learning, teaching, and working. See related vaccine FAQs.