Earlier this week, a federal judge in Georgia granted a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of President Biden’s Executive Order 14042, which requires certain personnel working on or in connection with specified federal contracts to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
The injunction is effective immediately and its scope is nationwide.
West Virginia University is suspending until further notice its COVID-19 vaccine verification process for WVU, WVU Research Corp. and WVU Research Office faculty, staff and students identified as subject to the federal contractor vaccine mandate.
This suspension does not apply to the WVU Health System vaccine mandate. Those on the Health Sciences Campus involved in patient care, including residents, fellows and students, should continue to comply with any program-specific guidance they receive. Questions can be directed to Health Sciences Incident Command at HSIC@hsc.wvu.edu.
Please note this situation continues to evolve, and future circumstances may change pending the outcomes of ongoing legal challenges to the federal mandate.
For individuals who completed the verification process or requested a medical or religious exemption, information submitted via the vaccine verification portal for federal contractors will remain confidentially on file along with any provided supporting documentation (e.g., immunization records and completed medical or religious exemption request forms).
The University will continue to provide updates as additional guidance becomes available. In the meantime, please contact talentandculture@mail.wvu.edu with any questions or concerns.