An ASUI resolution supporting vaccine requirements is an action that”s long overdue at the University of Idaho, said ASUI Director of Health and Wellness Katherin Pope before the senate at last week”s meeting.
Pope said the resolution, if passed, would support an initiative Assistant Vice Provost for Student Affairs Greg Tatham plans to to send to President Chuck Staben. If Staben approves the proposal he will then forward it to the State Board of Education (SBOE). She said the proposal includes a required vaccination for measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and meningitis.
“Idaho”s pretty far behind,” Pope said. “Almost all big university requires some proof of vaccinations in order to attend their school.”
Pope said this is an action that should have been taken long ago and the reestablishment of the Vandal Health Coalition last year has been responsible for much of the recent push.
“A lot of people are vaccinated and don”t even know it so it would just be a matter of getting that paperwork in,” Pope said. “I think the student body would be pretty cooperative if something like this was passed.”
Pope authored Resolution S16-06 along with ASUI Director of Policy Nick Wren. She said if passed, the resolution would not mandate anything. Rather, it will be used as a tool in Tatham”s proposal to the SBOE.
“What Greg is proposing has to be passed by the State Board of Education,” Pope said. “What our resolution is saying is why we support vaccines, why UI students should be vaccinated, and that the student body agrees with Greg”s work with this.”
As co-chair of the Vandal Health Coalition, Pope said she is passionate about establishing this policy at the university to make UI a healthier campus. She said there”s plenty of evidence the UI campus can be healthier – for example, she said, there was a mumps outbreak on campus last year.
“Which is ridiculous,” Pope said. “Mumps is a disease that can be completely eradicated.”
ASUI Sen. McKenzie MacDonald sponsored the resolution at last week”s senate meeting and said she feels it is something the SBOE should consider.
MacDonald said she knows it can be a controversial topic, so she has discussed it with multiple living groups on campus to get feedback on the legislation.
“I”ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback from the two groups I talked to,” MacDonald said. “I know there are some people who won”t support it, but the feedback I”ve received has been overall supportive of the resolution.”
MacDonald said some religious students may be upset if this policy is established, however she said anyone with a medical or religious conflict could be exempted from the requirement.
Overall, she said she feels the legislation will be beneficial to the UI community.
“Campus health is a big issue and the healthier we can keep our campus the better,” MacDonald said.
Wren said once Tatham gives his proposal to the SBOE, it is up to the board to decide if and when they will implement this kind of policy.
Overall, Pope said she feels the initiative would be beneficial to the UI community.
“Like I said, about two years ago a couple of people got mumps and that should just not be happening,” Pope said. “Not getting vaccinated not only affects that person but everyone around them.”
Jessica Gee can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @JessicaC_Gee