WSU to discontinue personal, philosophical exemption under COVID vaccine requirement

PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University will soon discontinue its personal and philosophical exemption under the vaccination requirement for COVID-19. 

This will happen once the Food and Drug Administration grants approval to any of the three vaccines currently under emergency use authorization. 

All students and staff who visit campus must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, though there are some exemptions allowed for medical and non-medical reasons (like religious exemption). 

On Thursday, WSU announced an accelerated deadline for students and staff to comply with the vaccination requirement. They must now comply by September 10. 

Once the personal exemption is formally removed from the university’s vaccination policy, students will have up to 45 days to initiate vaccination by getting at least one dose of an approved vaccine or by requesting a new religious exemption. 

The FDA is expected to seek formal approval for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks. 

RELATED: WSU to require students, employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19

READ: What does full FDA approval of a vaccine do if it’s already authorized for emergency use?

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