UCLA Faculty Association: Berkeley Masks

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Berkeley Masks

Masking policy at Berkeley seems to have created a brouhaha. From the San Francisco Chronicle:

UC Berkeley will again require students and employees who choose not to get vaccinated against influenza to mask up indoors during the upcoming flu season, a rule that has been in place since 2020 but led to outcry last week from critics of vaccines, masks and mandates relating to either. The university has not broadly communicated the requirement and says it does not have an enforcement mechanism to ensure students are either vaccinated or masked. “We aren’t verifying people’s records,” said Tami Cate, a UC Berkeley spokesperson. “It’s a self-attestation.”

Critics seized on the rule after conservative websites reported on it, with some noting the university does not require masks indoors for those not immunized against COVID-19. The larger University of California system requires that students and employees be vaccinated against the flu, just as it does with COVID-19, but allows people to opt out. UC Berkeley goes further by requiring indoor masking for those who opt out of the flu vaccine...

The conservative websites that focused attention on the UC Berkeley rule this week did not mention it had been in place since 2020 or that the campus doesn’t enforce it. UC Berkeley officials have not said why they adopted the flu mask requirement while there is no mask requirement for people not vaccinated against COVID.

Full story at https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/UC-Berkeley-mask-flu-vaccine-17416727.php.

The Berkeley brouhaha raises the issue of just what is required at UCLA concerning vaccines and masks. UCLA has a variety of vaccination requirements with limited exceptions:

The UC Immunization Policy requires all newly-admitted incoming students to provide proof of vaccination or immunity to measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), pertussis (whooping cough), varicella (chickenpox), and screening for tuberculosis, prior to entering and enrolling at the University of California. The meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) is required for students age 21 and younger. In addition, newly admitted incoming students must be screened for tuberculosis risk by completing the TB risk questionnaire form on the Ashe Patient Portal. As a condition of physical presence on campus, all students must provide proof of vaccination to COVID-19, including boosters or submit a request for exception at least two weeks before the first day of instruction. Students who fail to comply with the policy will be subject to an enrollment hold.

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Policy

The University of California issued an executive order on Oct. 8, 2021, requiring flu vaccination for all students, faculty, other academic appointees, and staff living, working, who will learn, live or work on-premises at a UC facility.

The requirements for Fall 2022 will be announced when they are confirmed, however we recommend vaccination annually for all students. One dose on or after August 1st and prior to the November 1st deadline.

Source: https://immunizationrequirement.ucla.edu/.

What about masks at UCLA?

Indoor masking will be strongly encouraged but no longer required on the UCLA campus or at UCLA facilities, except where LACDPH still requires masks be worn indoors, like health care settings, transportation hubs and public transportation in L.A. County... Masking is also still required following early release from isolation or quarantine.

A highly protective mask (i.e., surgical, N95, KN95 or KP94) while indoors with others is strongly recommended, and supplies remain available free of charge for students, faculty and staff at the UCLA PPE Store, the John Wooden Center, residence hall front desks, the Student Activities Center and in Ackerman Union at the A-level information window (next to the post office). Outdoor masking remains optional though strongly recommended when in large crowds or at events.

Source: https://portal.housing.ucla.edu/covid-19-protocols-and-expectations.

If there is a masking policy at UCLA for those individuals who are granted exemptions from vaccine requirements, yours truly could not find it.

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