Washington State fires its football coach over COVID-19 vaccine mandate

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Washington State University head coach Nick Rolovich speaks to his players before an NCAA college football game against Portland State on Sept. 11, 2021, in Pullman, Wash.





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Getting a religious exemption to a vaccine mandate may not be easy. Here’s why

Rolovich did seek a religious exemption, according to local news channel King 5, but the state’s rules limited approval for those exemptions.

Under the rules, according to NPB’s report, anyone whose job was public-facing, which involved direct care or put them in close proximity to colleagues couldn’t be accommodated in their current position. Regular tests or wearing a mask didn’t matter under those guidelines.

School officials said just a small number of university workers chose not to get a vaccine.

WSU President Kirk Schulz said in a statement, «While much has been made of the relatively small number of university employees who are not complying with the Governor’s mandate, we are immensely gratified that nearly 90 percent of WSU employees and 97 percent of our students are now vaccinated.»

Schulz went on to say, «WSU students, faculty, and staff understand the importance of getting vaccinated and wearing masks so that we can safely return to in-person learning and activities.»