COVID-19 Sign on Campus | Photo by Caitlin Shatsby | The Wright State Guardian

Wright State University (WSU) keeps the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in place with university faculty supporting the initiative while challenges to COVID protections continue in Ohio courts.

COVID legislation

WSU’s employee vaccine mandate took effect Jan. 4, 2022. All WSU employees, including student employees, were required to have at least one dose of an approved COVID vaccine or submitted an exemption through the Office of Disabilities Services.

President Joe Biden initiated this mandate in September 2021, with an executive order mandating that employers with over 100 employees require vaccination against COVID for their employees. WSU falls under this category.

Since its inception, there have been petitions and bills introduced to combat the order’s effectiveness. For Ohio, House Bill (H.B.) 218 challenges an employee mandate and Senate Bill (S.B.) 209 challenges masking requirements.

Vaccine mandate challenges

H.B. 218 would prevent a university like WSU from requiring any student or employee to receive a COVID vaccine. Passed in the Ohio House of Representatives, the bill is now in the Ohio Senate Budget committee. The chances of the bill passing are uncertain.

Additionally, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office rejected the Vaccine and/or Gene Therapy Choice and anti-Discrimination petition, a legal petition that challenged vaccine mandates.

Mask mandate challenges

S.B. 209, if passed, would...

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