Beginning Monday, April 5, all UWM students, faculty and staff will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the new requirements announced by Gov. Tony Evers.

On March 29, Gov. Evers, along with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, announced in a press release that everyone 16 years of age and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning April 5. With the new eligibility, all UWM students will be eligible to be vaccinated as of then, UWM Chancellor Mark Mone said in a campus update sent out on March 30.

“This marks a major milestone in our state’s fight against this virus and gets us closer to overcoming this pandemic and bouncing back together,” Gov. Evers said in the press release. “Thank you to all the folks in public health, vaccinators, and staff helping make this possible.”

UWM Students are able to fill out a request for COVID-19 vaccination at UWM online, or they can find a list of local COVID-19 vaccination sites on UWM’s COVID-19 information website. Wisconsin pharmacies are also administering COVID-19 vaccinations, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

“I strongly urge you to get vaccinated,” said Chancellor Mone. “It is the best way to protect your health and the health of those around you. It is also key to our being able to return to mostly in-person instruction in the fall and to being able to return to mostly in-person student events.”

The UWM COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic opened in early March in the Wisconsin Room of the UWM Student Union. It is open to community members, as well as students, faculty and staff at UWM.

“UWM has a long history of service to Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin, and the vaccination clinic in the UWM Student Union allows us to provide another valuable service to people throughout the greater Milwaukee area,” said Michelle Johnson, Senior Director of Integrated Marketing and Communications at UWM.

The UWM COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic is in partnership with Advocate Aurora Health and the Milwaukee Health Department. More information about the clinic can be found on the UWM COVID-19 website. Free parking is available in the UWM Student Union parking garage for those being vaccinated.

“Partnerships are key to vaccination success. The work by UWM is a great addition to this region’s vaccination options,” said Jeff Fleming, from Community and Media Relations at the City of Milwaukee. “UWM has stepped up along with healthcare providers, community groups, pharmacies, and churches. The cooperation has been impressive”