Almost Three-Quarters of Blugolds Are Vaccinated, UW System Says
more campuses approach 70% mark to be eligible for scholarships
Nearly three out of every four UW-Eau Claire students has been vaccinated against COVID-19, putting the campus near the top among UW System campuses.
According to data released by the UW System, 74% of Blugolds had been vaccinated as of earlier this week, just behind the 75% rate at UW-La Crosse. UW-Madison led the pack with a 93% vaccination rate, followed by UW-Milwaukee at 81%. The vaccination rates, which were tabulated through Wednesday, Sept. 22, were reported Friday.
Last week, UWEC became the fourth campus in the university system to cross the 70% threshold, which made its students eligible for scholarships as part of the UW System’s “70 for 70” vaccine promotion campaign. Under the campaign, students on campuses that cross the 70% mark will be placed in a drawing for one of 70 scholarships worth $7,000 each. (All campuses are eligible except UW-Madison, which has its own vaccine promotion program.)
Last week, UWEC became the fourth campus in the university system to cross the 70% threshold, which made students eligible for scholarships as part of the UW Systems “70 for 70” vaccine promotion campaign.
The UW System also announced Friday that two additional campuses – UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater – had reached the 70% goal.
“Thanks to the students and all the university employees at UW Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater for helping us reach this goal,” UW System President Tommy Thompson said in a press release. “Like me, they want to make our universities healthy and safe, and I know they have worked tirelessly to make today’s announcement possible.”
Why 70%? In July, the UW System explained that the “70 percent threshold was chosen based on estimates about the percentage of the population needed to reach herd immunity, which represents those who are vaccinated or who already had the virus and indicates a base level of community-wide protection.”
According to UW System figures, the vaccination rate at UW-Stout in Menomonie is close behind at 65%. The lowest rates in the system are at UW-Parkside in Kenosha (41%), UW-Platteville (49%), and UW-Stevens Point (49%).
When the “70 for 70” program was announced in July, the deadline for students to be fully vaccinated was Oct. 15. However, that deadline has now been extended to Oct. 31.
“Extending the deadline as our vaccination rates grow will afford more students the opportunity to participate, as getting two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine requires students to act sooner than later to complete the series,” Thompson said. “Our priority is to make our universities healthy and safe, so we can deliver the college experience students deserve and parents expect. High vaccination rates are key to our success.”
Learn more about the UW System’s vaccination efforts at wisconsin.edu/70for70.
