Jamie Naylor interviewing students on campus | Photo by Diana Jaber | The Wright State Guardian
Wright State University (WSU) students and alumni weigh in on vaccine mandates as Ohio universities begin to instate Covid-19 vaccine requirements.
FDA’s Approval
On Aug. 23, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully approved Pfizer’s Coivd-19 vaccine for use as protection against coronavirus including the Delta variant. Moderna and Jhonson and Jhonson, the other two vaccines on the market, have been approved by the FDA for emergency use but have not received full approval.
READ MORE: FDA Fully Approves Pfizer Vaccine; Ohio Universities Legally Allowed to Mandate
Since the approval, many Ohio universities, including Ohio State, have issued vaccine mandates for their staff and students. These mandates require students to get vaccinated against Covid-19 to attend classes.
WSU Covid-19 policy
WSU currently does not require the campus community to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, however, it is strongly encouraged for students and faculty. Recently the university reinstated its indoor mask mandate.
Additionally, the Covid-19 task force sent out a voluntary survey to gather information on student vaccination status and gauge public opinion on a vaccine mandate.
Student opinions
Wright State students and alumni have mixed opinions on whether or not the university should instate a vaccine mandate for the campus community.
Students like Mya Davis believe that WSU should require Covid-19 vaccination.
“I think it would be good to have a vaccine mandate,” Davis said.
Others like Donovyn Stevens think that WSU should continue to strongly suggest vaccination and keep the mask mandate on campus.
Some students like recent graduate Anthony Mitchell and junior Benjamin Bowers are against a WSU vaccine mandate.
“I’m vaccinated but I respect other people’s choices on whether or not they want to be. I think they (WSU) should figure out who is vaccinated and those people don’t have to wear masks and those who are not, can just come at their own risk,” Bowers said.
Alumni like Mackenzie Strang advocate for a vaccine mandate only if a large percentage of the campus population does not receive one.
WSU has yet to announce plans to instate a vaccine mandate.
