DOE issues statement on vaccine mandate for UNH employees

   
CONCORD, NH — In response to recent news articles regarding the new vaccination requirement for employees at the University of New Hampshire, Commissioner of Education Frank Edelblut releases the following statement.

“The University System of New Hampshire has, throughout the course of the pandemic, implemented its own safety plans to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through surveillance testing, masking and other measures. These efforts have been incredibly effective in keeping the campus community safe, without the implementation of a vaccine mandate. I am deeply disappointed that the University of New Hampshire was put in a very difficult and untenable situation with unwarranted pressure from its federal partners. This pressured overreach requiring the implementation of a vaccine mandate for University employees was unnecessary and unproductive in our efforts to keep our communities safe. Institutions of higher education should not be imposing vaccine mandates, but instead should be focusing their efforts on supporting students and staff, improving academic achievements and also allowing employees to decide what works best for their families.”