MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As the Delta variant of the coronavirus drives the latest surge, West Virginia University officials are reviewing vaccine distribution and policies to keep the campus open and safe.
WVU Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Rob Alsop they are pleased with the number of students and staff that have had the shot, but still they want more to get the shot.
“We’ve had a number of pop-up vaccination clinics and students decided to get vaccinated once they’ve returned to campus,” Alsop said during a recent appearance on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.”
The Delta variant was first identified in India and is estimated to be 60% more transmissible than the original coronavirus at the beginning of the pandemic. As more scientific information is developed about the Delta variant, policies are adjusted to maintain the same level of protection.
“With the Delta variant it’s a different deal, it’s so much more contagious” Alsop said. “They’ve told us we really need to push to get up to that 80 or 85-percent vaccination rate.”
The unknowns presented by a newly developed vaccine have become major concerns for many people. Officials have to thoughtfully consider the best to implement a strategy while maintaining morale in the workforce.
“If we mandate a vaccine and we lose a number of employees which limits our ability to provide services we have to balance that,” Alsop said.
According to data from WVU, nearly 76% of students and 73% of staff and faculty are fully vaccinated and that number continues to grow.
“Delta is very contagious, but given our vaccination rate and how they are already and how high we can push them, do we need that mandate to get over that as it relates to the assets of our hospital system,” Alsop said.
Moving forward, additional FDA approvals and trial data could provide compelling evidence for the hesitant. Those approvals could lead to new policies in the future.
“Is there a point in time that where we could indicate- ok as of this semester we’re going to mandate it,” Alsop said. “I do think that providing folks clarity and time to respond would be preferable here.”