UM System Board of Curators set to vote on federal vaccine mandate Thursday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University Missouri System Board of Curators will discuss and could vote Thursday on how the system will implement the vaccine mandate for federal contractors, with some possible exceptions.

A federal order means any university employee that works with a federal contract needs to get vaccinated. Curators will discuss allowing exemptions for people with religious or medical reasons.

MU Spokesman, Christian Basi said the Biden administration mandate also includes people not working on a federal contract.

"If you work with or around someone who works for a federal contract you also are required to get a vaccine mandate," Basi said.

The board will consider a third exemption.

"If you are an employee that is not necessarily covered under the federal mandate, and you do not work anywhere near someone that is covered, that can also be an exemption," Basi said.

Governor Parson filed an Executive Order to ensure that federal contractors can have certain exemptions to the mandate.

"The possibility of certain exemptions and so that will be part of the discussion tomorrow we're expecting that to be talked about," Basi said.

Students who do not work for the university would not be required to get vaccinated.

The board plans to discuss and vote on the issue Thursday afternoon.