Photo Provided BELMONT COUNTY Health Department nursing Director Linda Mehl gives an unidentified Ohio University Eastern student a COVID-19 vaccination during a recent clinic held at the campus in St. Clairsville. Ohio University announced Tuesday that its main and its branch campus students and staff are required to get vaccinated by Nov. 15.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A local university is among the latest institutions to mandate that its students and employees get vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to a letter from Ohio University President Hugh Sherman to the school’s students, faculty and staff, all students and employees will be required to be vaccinated against the virus by Nov. 15. The mandate, announced Tuesday, includes all of OU’s branch campuses such as Ohio University Eastern in St. Clairsville.

“Our commitment is to provide our students with the most normal college experience possible, but the reality is that as a nation, we are not as far as we hoped we would be in battling the pandemic,” Sherman wrote. “Public health experts are tracking an increase in cases in Ohio and on our campuses due to the extremely contagious delta variant, and we need to do everything we can to continue to show our care and respect for one another and do our part to help keep the entire community safe and healthy.

“Therefore, after thoughtful consideration, in consultation with public health experts and in agreement with many of our peer institutions across the state, all OHIO students, faculty, and staff at all locations are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 15, 2021. For vaccines that require two doses, both doses must be completed by this date. This applies to all employees, including those working remotely and all students except those enrolled exclusively in fully online programs and coursework who will not access University facilities on any campus in person.”

In addition to students using fully online programs, the school also is allowing other exemptions: for medical reasons or for reasons of conscience, including ethical and moral belief or sincerely held religious beliefs.

The university is providing students and staff with a clinic to get the vaccine. They will be required to provide proof of vaccination as well by uploading their vaccine card to the school’s online “Vaccination Pathway.”

Students who are not yet fully vaccinated are being required to get tested weekly.

“COVID Operations will be announcing new incentive programs for members of the University community who complete vaccination prior to the deadline,” Sherman wrote. “The vaccination is our best protection against COVID-19 and will ultimately help end the pandemic. If and when boosters are recommended, the University will update this policy to reflect those recommendations. Thank you for doing your part to protect our campus community.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the wearing of masks indoors in schools to help prevent the spread of the highly contagious delta variant, despite one’s vaccination status. It updated its guidance on Aug. 5.