UW-Madison Pausing Vaccine Mandate

Thursday, December 16th, 2021 -- 10:00 AM

(Terry Bell & Bill Wise, WRN) The University of Wisconsin in Madison is pausing its vaccine mandate.

President Biden’s nationwide order requiring vaccinations for all federal contractors is on hold, while a legal challenge works its way through the courts. U-W Madison was requiring all employees get vaccinated against the coronavirus by January 4th, or be fired.

The president’s order allowed for exemptions, but those employees would still have to be tested. The university says 96-percent of its employees are fully vaccinated. 

Also, in a switch from last year, the commencement ceremony this weekend at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will be held in-person. The winter 2021 commencement will start at 10:00 a-m Sunday at the Kohl Center.  Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a virtual ceremony.

University officials say the event will comply with all public health guidelines, including the requirement that all people attending wear masks.  One-thousand-823 doctoral, professional, master’s and bachelor’s students are graduating.  A little over 12 hundred have indicated they plan to attend.

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