PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Community College announced it will not require students and staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 for the fall term.
The college's COVID-19 Opening Leadership Team unanimously recommended the decision and president Mark Mitsui approved it.
PCC said several factors were behind the decision to not require vaccinations. One reason it pointed to: According to surveys, vaccination rates for employees and staff "far exceed 70%, the vaccination target rate set by Gov. Kate Brown." PCC also said vaccination requirements can create a barrier to education "that will disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous and People of Color."
While no other community colleges in Oregon have a vaccine requirement, all seven of the state's public universities will require vaccinations for students and employees returning to campus in the fall.
