Virginia college students react to possible COVID vaccine requirement (FILE) (Source: Hawaii News Now) By Hunter Britt | April 30, 2021 at 6:19 PM EDT - Updated April 30 at 8:16 PM RICHMOND, Va. - Virginiaâs colleges and universities are beginning to announce mandatory fall COVID-19 vaccine policies following the state attorney generalâs opinion that higher education institutes can require the vaccine. Virginia public colleges and universities can mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for faculty and students returning to campus this fall, Attorney General Mark Herring stated in late April. âVirginiaâs college and university students deserve the chance to go to classes in-person and take advantage of all that their schools have to offer, but over the past year we have seen numerous COVID outbreaks on school campuses, so we must make sure that they are doing so with the health and safety of their peers and communities in mind,â Herring stated.