On Thursday, WSU announced that students are no longer required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 beginning this summer.

The changes come after a recommendation from WSU’s Infectious Disease and Public Health Advisory Committee, according to the announcement.

The announcement said that boosters are dependent on various factors, such as age, existing health conditions, date of previous vaccinations and previous COVID-19 infections, making it difficult to mandate vaccines.

In their recommendation, the committee also said that the severity of COVID-19 infections and its strain on healthcare systems have declined through the end of 2022. 

In October 2022, WSU rescinded the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for most employees, contractors and volunteers, following Gov. Jay Inslee’s removal of Washington state’s COVID-19 emergency orders.

Those affiliated with WSU Health Sciences programs, including students, volunteers, visitors and contractors will continue to follow their COVID-19 vaccine requirements.