ISU leaders pleased by high vaccination rates among students, employees

Posted on August 19, 2021

ISU is starting the school year requiring students, faculty, and staff to provide proof of vaccination, while those who don’t show proof must submit to weekly saliva-based COVID-19 testing. (WJBC file photo)

NORMAL – Fall classes started this week at Illinois State University, and leaders there said they are pleased so far with vaccination rates that far exceed those for all of McLean County and the rest of the state.

The university said 61% of all students and 80% of all employees were fully vaccinated as of Tuesday, based on those who’ve shown proof they’ve received their vaccinations against COVID-19.

ISU reported 76% of students living on-campus are fully vaccinated, while 81% have had at least one dose.

“We expect these numbers to continue to rise,” said ISU Media Relations Director Eric Jome.

Latest McLean County Health Department data show 51.22% of county residents are fully vaccinated, compared to 52.14% of all Illinois residents.

ISU is starting the school year requiring students, faculty, and staff to provide proof of vaccination, while those who don’t show proof must submit to weekly saliva-based COVID-19 testing.

“We’ve been pleased with the progress and the fact that people continue to submit their proof of vaccination,” said Jome.

“Again, we expect these numbers to continue to rise,” he added.

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