DeKALB – NIU students who received a personal exemption while COVID-19 vaccinations were under Emergency Use Authorization status will now be required to get vaccinated, according to a Monday university statement. 

The requirement comes after the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and older on Monday. The Pfizer vaccine is the first to receive full authorization from the FDA.

NIU said in a statement that proof of vaccination will be required for all on-campus students in order to register for spring semester courses. Students can request exemption from the vaccine requirement for documented health or religious reasons but they will be required to participate in weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing.

On Monday, NIU announced that five students and two employees had tested positive for COVID-19, according to the COVID-19 campus dashboard. There are currently eight students and two employees who have tested positive. 

In June, it was announced that all on-campus students would be required to be vaccinated for the fall semester. 

More information on COVID-19 vaccine requirements can be found here.