The universities have started to send out different messages regarding COVID vaccination boosters.  Some of the messages have generated questions.  Here is the union’s understanding.

Both of the memoranda of agreement for librarians and day faculty, and for DGCE faculty state:

“If a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH), unit members who have received that vaccine shall comply with said recommendation.”

Therefore, the MSCA has already agreed that boosters are required.  In fact, the union’s position is that the universities cannot waive the booster requirement without bargaining a change in the requirement.

On November 29, 2021, the CDC released its recommendation on COVID booster, “CDC Expands COVID-19 Booster Recommendations.”

The recommendation includes the statement that:

“Everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot either when they are 6 months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna series or 2 months after their initial J&J vaccine.”

It is the MSCA’s position that we agreed to CDC recommendations, and therefore we agreed to the timeframes in CDC recommendations.  Any apparently conflicting information from the university should be addressed with the university.

The two MOAs still allow for medical and religious exemptions.  It is the union’s position that nothing in the MOAs has been altered by the CDC recommendation. I hope this clarifies the union’s position on COVID boosters.