March 29, 2024

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement/Update on Boosters and Vaccine for Children 5-11

This message is from the Public Health Advisory Work Group and the Office of Human Resources

Dear Colleagues,

President Biden’s Executive Order 14042 requires employees of organizations that hold certain federal contracts to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. UMW qualifies as such an organization, therefore, all UMW employees are required to be fully vaccinated by December 8, 2021, unless they have a University-approved religious or medical exemption.

Since August 23, 2021, all employees who are not fully vaccinated have been required to undergo weekly COVID testing. This requirement will continue and employees with a religious or medical exemption must be tested every week.

You may apply for exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement by completing the COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Request form or the COVID-19 Vaccination Religious Exemption Request form.

Contraindications to vaccination are described by current CDC recommendations and these serve as a basis for determining medical exemption. Valid evidence for any medical contraindication is required and should be submitted via the COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Request form signed by a licensed medical provider. Religious exemption request forms must be notarized. Exemption request forms must be uploaded to the Faculty/Staff Vaccine Survey by 5:00pm Monday, November 29.

The submitted materials will be evaluated and determinations of exemption will be provided as soon as possible. If the exemption is not granted, you will not be considered compliant with the University’s vaccination requirement.

 

Thank you,
UMW Public Health Advisory Work Group

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Dear Students, Staff, and Faculty,

We want to provide you a quick update about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters based on the latest information from the CDC and VDH.

  • The Virginia Department of Health has confirmed that any student or employee of an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia is now eligible to receive a COVID booster based on the congregate nature of college campuses.
  • The CDC also now recommends that children between the ages of 5 & 11 received the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine. Families should seek guidance from their pediatricians for household children within this age group. Vaccinating children can help protect family members, including siblings who are not eligible for vaccination and family members who may be at increased risk of getting very sick if they are infected. See the following from the Rappahannock Area Health District for more: CVC_PressRelease-RAHD 5-11 final.

Please let us know if you have any questions at COVIDvaccination@umw.edu.

 

Sincerely,
Public Health Advisory Working Group