UT Board chooses not to mandate COVID-19 vaccine for students The Board said COVID-19 shots are not required as part of student immunizations, but the UT System strongly recommended getting them. Author: WBIR Staff Updated: 4:07 PM EDT April 20, 2021 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee will not require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine after the UT Board of Trustees met Tuesday to approve new immunization and conduct rules. The new rules will not require students to get COVID-19 or flu vaccines, but still require shots for MMR, chicken pox, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease as well as other vaccines specifically for students in health science fields.