St. Thomas will not require community members working or learning on campus to get the COVID-19 vaccine “at this time,” a Wednesday email from the University Action and Response Team to St. Thomas community members said.

However, all students and employees will be required to report their vaccination status to St. Thomas before the fall semester.

“This decision was made after months of lengthy discussions with various university stakeholders, consultations with leading health care experts (including our Morrison Family College of Health advisory board), and input from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH),” the email wrote.

The university is “not ruling out a future university-wide mandate,” and some activities such as study abroad, university-sponsored travel and field and clinical placements may require vaccination, according to the email.

All students and employees must report their vaccination status by Aug. 1. The Center for Well-Being should already have a record of those vaccinated in Minnesota through the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) system.

Those vaccinated outside of the state or country will need to log into the Center for Well-Being’s myHealthPortal to upload vaccination documents. Community members can also log in to the health portal to confirm that the Center for Well-Being has a record of their vaccination.

The email also introduced a new incentive program to encourage employees and students who are medically able to get vaccinated before the fall semester.

“The incentives are wide ranging, from gift cards to discounts on study abroad experiences and tuition; from professional development funds for faculty to extra time off for staff,” the email wrote.

Those interested in participating in the incentive program can sign up here. More details about the program will be announced soon, the email said.

The Center for Well-Being will also begin administering Moderna vaccines in addition to its current supply of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Mondays and Tuesdays over the summer. Those wanting to get their shot on campus can schedule an appointment online on the myHealthPortal website or by calling the Center for Well-Being.

The university hopes to return to normal operations this fall, meaning virtually no restrictions on capacity limits, social distancing or face coverings.

“To get there, we need as many community members as possible vaccinated against COVID-19,” the email said.

Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.