August 10, 2022: COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Dear Students,
While the COVID-19 pandemic is still a factor in our lives, the Ventura County community has shown personal responsibility for themselves and others by following COVID-19 safety protocols: Nearly 74% of our county is fully vaccinated, and case counts are well below the January 2022 high (vcrecovers.org).
After thoughtful discussion and gathering data from the Ventura County Public Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control, the Board of Trustees last night approved removing the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for employees and students (previously outlined in Board Policy 3506 COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Employees and Students). Watch for an email from your college president for college-specific protocols and procedures.
For the continued health and safety of our campus communities, all students and employees are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated, get boosters as soon as eligible, and wear a mask when near others as a method of reducing the COVID-19 spread. We also request that you respect others’ choices.
Thank you for your patience as we work through updates to websites, the student portal, social media, and other areas related to the removal of the mandate.
For employees and students who are coming onto campus, here are the latest COVID-19 protocols at Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura colleges and the District Administrative Center:
Top 5 Ways You are Strongly Encouraged to Stay Safe and Protect Others:
- Get COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters as soon as you are eligible. Boosters can enhance or restore protection against COVID-19 that might have decreased over time after your initial vaccination.
- Complete the required Daily Screening Form on the MyVCCCD mobile app when you are coming to campus.
- Wear an N-95 or KN-95 mask while you’re on campus.
- Wash your hands often.
- Avoid crowds; if you are in a crowded place, wear a mask.
If you’re not feeling well—even if you think it’s just a cold.
- Do not come to campus.
- Complete the Daily Screening Form on the MyVCCCD mobile app and a nurse from the Student Health Center will contact you.
- Get tested with an at-home (Rapid Antigen) or PCR test and upload your results to the MyVCCCD mobile app.
- Please know that false negatives may occur the first two days of symptoms with either test. A PCR test is still the preferred and more accurate test for the first two days of COVID-19 symptoms. Visit vcrecovers.org for information about testing options.
- If you test positive: Complete the MyVCCCD mobile app and contact your campus’s Student Health Center for your healthy return to campus plan. For information, visit the California Department of Public Health for guidance.
VCCCD will continue to align with orders from the Ventura County Public Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control. We will continue keeping students and employees updated on changes to the COVID-19 protocols. If you have any questions, visit VCCCD COVID-19 information.
Our campus communities include people of all ages and levels of health, so it is vitally important that we all work together to respect and protect each other. Thank you for all you are doing to help keep our campus communities healthy and safe.
We are excited for the start of the Fall semester!
Resources:
• Find a Test to Treat location (www.vcrecovers.org/testing or call 888-634-1123).
• Make a vaccine appointment at MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255.
• Stay up to date at vcrecovers.org and VCCCD.edu/COVID19.