CARBONDALE (WSIL) -- Illinois governor JB Pritzker announced Thursday morning that will affect higher education throughout Illinois.
The mandate requires all higher education students to have at least received their first dose of the COVID vaccine by September fifth.
If students don't get vaccinated, they will be required to test for the virus at least once a week.
Students stand divided on the issue, with some arguing the mandate gives fair options, while other say there is no place for a mandate in the first place.
"I think that it's fair. Vaccinations are not new for us, any time you go to public schooling, there are vaccination requirements. And I think that if you don't want to abide by those requirements than a test is reasonable for everybody's safety," said SIU senior Alexandra Banks.
Grace, who is a first year master's student at SIU, disagrees.
"I don't think it should be done. I think people should be able to choose what they want to inject into their bodies, not have the government tell them," she said.
SIU already has vaccination clinics set up twice a week for students to get their vaccine, and they also have for those who have gotten vaccinated.
SIU students will be informed through student affairs on how to provide proof of vaccination.
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