Nearly every member of the Emerson community is fully vaccinated for COVID-19, college officials announced last week. 

Associate Vice President for Campus Life and “COVID Lead” Erik Muurisepp wrote in an email that 96 percent of students, faculty and staff were fully vaccinated and “close to 100 percent” of the community was in compliance with the college’s requirement to disclose their vaccination status. In May, Emerson mandated that all students be vaccinated, barring a medical or religious exemption. 

“This percentage is excellent news and helps us have confidence in our decision for in-person teaching and learning,” Muurisepp wrote. “Thank you to everyone for helping to make the Emerson community safer this semester.”

Despite the high vaccination levels, Emerson has seen a rash of positive COVID-19 tests since community members began returning to campus and the resumption of in-person classes. As of Monday, the college had reported 21 positive tests out of the 8,455 administered—a .25 percent positivity rate. The positive tests recorded thus far are likely “breakthrough” cases of the virus. 

Emerson mandates all students get tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis, and is set to drop a mask mandate for on-campus activities on Sept. 17.