Dear students

I am writing today to seek your help in two important matters:

  • Ensuring you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the start of the academic year
  • Completing a very short survey about your vaccination status as soon as you can. This should take no more than two minutes.

We want you to have the greatest amount of freedom possible when you are in Cambridge, while also taking every step we can to minimise the risk of infection spreading. These two things will help us do this.

Why is it important to get vaccinated?

  • Getting the vaccine saves lives. It protects you, your loved ones, the people you live and work with, and the wider community. Take the vaccine as soon as you can and remember to get both doses.
  • From 16 August, anyone who has been fully vaccinated in the UK (two doses plus two weeks) will no longer have to self-isolate in their room if they come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
  • In the coming academic year, we want to retain as much of the normal learning and wider student experience as possible. High rates of vaccination will help us to do this, and will help you to enjoy the many opportunities that Cambridge has to offer.

How to get your vaccine

If you are not yet vaccinated, see our information on vaccination, for both UK and international students. If you are in the UK, vaccinations are free: you can book an appointment via the NHS, or attend a walk-in clinic.

Why are we asking about students’ vaccination status?

  • Colleges and the University can use the rate of vaccination in assessing risk in different contexts (for example, households in College or teaching situations), and therefore to plan outbreak control measures. The higher the rate of vaccination, the less onerous the control measures for everyone.
  • The local public health team can use the University’s rate of vaccination to help plan their outbreak control measures, and to plan vaccination pop-up centres for students at the start of Term.

How will we use your data?

We will share the information you give us with your College for planning purposes only. We will share only anonymised, aggregate data with Departments, Faculties and the local health authority. For more information about how the University uses your data for COVID-19 management please see our Privacy Notice.

Many thanks for completing this short survey.

With best wishes,

Graham

Professor Graham Virgo

Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education)