Michigan State and Wisconsin are among the many that aren’t requiring them or requiring masks.
During the past week, both the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Michigan State University announced they were not requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for the fall semester, but rather encouraging them. The two institutions also have lifted restrictions on masks for those who are vaccinated, relying on an honor system among students, staff and faculty to ensure there is no potential spread of the virus.
“Once a person is vaccinated, they have the highest level of protection,” Chancellor Rebecca Blank wrote in a letter to the UW community. “Even if they are sitting immediately next to someone who tests positive, this is no longer considered a close contact and quarantine is not required. The vaccine offers such high protection that the risk of transmission is very low.”
A similar refrain has been echoed by other colleges and universities seeking to reopen more traditionally this fall and heeding to public health guidance largely from the Centers for Disease Control.