Update from the Vice President of Student Life, Becky Starkenburg, February 25, 2021

Trinity Community,

I am writing today to announce that we will be following the most recent CDC and IDPH guidance regarding vaccines. What does this mean for you?

1. Close Covid-19 contact

Individuals who are fully vaccinated will not have to quarantine due to exposure if they are asymptomatic (have no signs of illness) beginning the first two weeks after their last vaccine dose (the number of doses depends on the manufacturer). This “get out of quarantine” window is 15- 90 days after the last dose. We will continue to monitor CDC updates and live in hope that this will be extended in the future.

2. Covenant of Care and safety precautions

At this time, individuals who are fully vaccinated are and will be expected to follow the Covenant of Care (including wearing masks, distancing), self-monitor symptoms and complete #CampusClear daily.

3. Signs of illness

Individuals who are fully vaccinated who are symptomatic or showing any signs of illness should still stay home and red screen. Though the news about the vaccines is VERY promising and exciting for our future together, it is possible to get COVID even after vaccinated, so we ask vaccinated folks to self-monitor and stay home to keep illness out of the community. This helps those NOT vaccinated stay healthy too until herd immunity can be reached.

If you are vaccinated and are contact traced by COVID Care, you will be asked to show evidence of your vaccine doses. In future weeks, we will be developing a system for students, faculty and staff to upload vaccine records for us to have on file. We will send out information once those systems are ready.

Many have asked if we will be requiring the COVID vaccine. Trinity’s plan is to await guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the entity that manages our other vaccination requirements before issuing any policies.

Please note that all other state required vaccinations/immunizations for students should be recorded and submitted through our normal pre-COVID processes at this time.

VP Starkenburg