UB reports 99% student vaccination rate as first week of classes ends

BUFFALO, N.Y. — With the first week of the fall semester at the University at Buffalo wrapping up, UB officials are pleased to report an extremely high COVID-19 vaccination rate among students.

UB’s student vaccination rate is 99% — the highest in the State University of New York (SUNY) system — with 28,500 students providing proof they’ve been fully vaccinated. That includes the 6,800 students living in on-campus residence halls and apartments who were required to be fully vaccinated.

Approximately 1,400 UB students have received their first shot. They have until Sept. 27 to obtain their second dose of one of the two-shot vaccines.

In the meantime, these students must participate in weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing, and are encouraged to practice physical distancing as much as possible, in addition to wearing a mask indoors and outside.

If they intend to live on campus, they have been offered a temporary campus housing assignment until they can move in to their regular residence hall or campus apartment.

In addition to a very high vaccination rate, other health and safety guidelines, such as indoor masking, surveillance testing and an innovative wastewater monitoring program, are keeping the UB community safe and reducing the risk of COVID-19 from spreading.

With these science-based, multi-layered health protocols in place, the university anticipates being one of the safest places in Western New York this semester.

UB officials say the high vaccination rate is a testament to students’ dedication and compliance with the SUNY mandate requiring that students be fully vaccinated in order to attend in-person classes and activities. It also reflects students’ adherence to UB’s health and safety protocols, as well as their excitement to return to in-person instruction.

“It’s been great to see the enthusiasm from students this week. They are energized to be on campus, and we’re just as excited to see all the activity on campus again,” said Brian Hamluk, UB's vice president for student life. “I want to thank all of our students for their compliance with the university’s health and safety guidelines this week. They are taking this seriously and doing their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

As part of the SUNY mandate, students were required to submit proof of full vaccination by Aug. 30, or proof of a first dose by Aug. 30, followed by proof of completed vaccine series by Sept. 27, giving them five weeks to comply with the requirement. Students who do not meet the deadlines will be dropped or resigned from all courses with an in-person component.