For example, each student’s age, existing health conditions, when previous vaccines were received and past COVID‑19 infections all factor in to when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends someone should get a booster. Vaccine boosters can be an important part of that process but are dependent on so many variables that mandating them would pose significant challenges. “Our understanding of the virus and the tactics to combat it are evolving and we continue to follow the best available evidence from local, state, and national public health authorities, just as we have done throughout the pandemic.”
“Requiring the COVID‑19 vaccine for students was essential during the peak of the pandemic to help protect the health of our communities across the state,” said Joel Schwartzkopf, who oversees Cougar Health Services in his role as assistant vice chancellor of student health and wellbeing. Members of the committee include representatives from across the WSU system with expertise in public health, student services, human resources, and environmental health and safety. Vaccine requirements are unchanged for WSU Health Sciences students. The decision to rescind the COVID‑19 vaccinate mandate for the majority of students follows a recommendation from the university’s Infectious Disease and Public Health Advisory Committee. Washington State University will no longer require most students to be vaccinated against COVID‑19 beginning with the summer 2023 session.