Vaccination

Last updated: 10-25-2021

Vaccination directive

The Continuity of Operations Taskforce and Senior Management have directed that:

• All students (both entering and continuing) must be vaccinated by Aug. 1, 2021. Distance learning students are exempted from this directive.
• All EVMS employees are required to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1, with exemptions for medical and religious reasons.
• Effective Sept. 1, all new hires who are not fully vaccinated will be required to obtain at least the first vaccine dose by their start date and the second dose (if applicable) within sixty days of employment.
• All EVMS staff provided through a temp agency are required to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1, with exemptions for medical and religious reasons.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination on the FAQ page.

Rationale for the directive

The vaccine mandate is an essential part of participating in in-person instruction, clinical experiences, and student social and community engagement activities.  The determination to mandate the vaccine was made after the vaccines were safely administered to millions of people across the United States, and is based on CDC guidance on the use, safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccine is the safest and most effective way to protect the health and safety of the EVMS campus.

Requesting an exemption from the vaccination requirement

Medical exemptions for students will be determined by Student Health and religious exemptions will be determined by Student Affairs. Employees may be granted religious exemptions by Human Resources and medical exemptions will be determined by Occupational Health by following the procedures in place for the annual flu shot. 

Who is fully vaccinated?

People are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or two weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson [J&J]/Janssen).

Individuals who have received all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that is listed for emergency use by WHO (Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines (e.g., COMIRNATY, Tozinameran), AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccines (e.g., Covishield, Vaxzevria), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine) do not need any additional doses with an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.

Booster shots

Booster doses are encouraged for eligible employees, but are not mandatory. Booster shots are available through the Virginia Department of Health and many local pharmacies.

Sanctions for noncompliance for those not fully vaccinated

The following sanctions apply to students and employees who are not fully vaccinated and do not comply with EITHER the vaccination requirement or masking guidelines:

Students

Sanctions for students who are noncompliant with the vaccination directive will be uniformly applied across all programs and will be handled by Student Affairs under the Code of Student Conduct as outlined below.

• First violation involves a written warning via the Maxient system. Program directors will be included on this notification per professionalism procedures.
• Second violation leads to a 24-hour suspension from campus and all academic activities, including all virtual activities, using the Interim Actions procedures from the Code of Student Conduct.
  • All missed academic activities will be considered unexcused absences and subject to relevant program policies.
  • Student ID badges will be deactivated for the length of the suspension.
  • Students will be given a date and time to meet with the Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities (or designee) within the 24-hour suspension to initiate the Code of Student Conduct procedures.
  • Program directors will be informed of the student infraction.
• Third violation leads to a one-week suspension from campus and all academic activities, including all virtual activities, using same procedures as for the second violation.
• Fourth violation will lead to suspension from campus and all academic activities, including all virtual activities, for the remainder of academic term using same procedures as for the second violation.
• Subsequent violations could result in dismissal from the institution.

Faculty and Staff

The following progressive discipline policy will be followed for faculty and staff who do not comply with the mandatory vaccination deadline for obtaining a required vaccine. The process is as follows:

• Verbal Reprimand Issued with 5 days to comply to prevent further action
• Written Reprimand Issued with 5 days to comply to prevent further action
• Placed on probation with 5 days to comply
• Termination possible or in lieu of termination merit increases will be withheld and no non-mandatory business travel will be approved.

Database on vaccination status

Human Resources (with assistance from Risk Management) will maintain a database on employees and students with regard to their vaccination status and will share that information as appropriate with Occupational Health, Student Health, Student Affairs, PDs and others with a business reason for needing to know. Find a link to the EVMS VAX Portal in myPortal.