Applies to: (examples; Faculty,Staff, Students, etc)

Faculty , Staff , Students

Policy Overview:

For the safety of its employees and students, has adopted a policy regarding vaccination for COVID-19. From June 2022 through May 11, 2023, UHSP had a strict “fully vaccinated” requirement for all faculty, staff and students who did not have a valid medical or religious exemption. With the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration, UHSP has shifted its stance to highly recommending the COVID-19 vaccine. Certain employees and students, such as faculty with clinical responsibilities and students rotating through sites requiring vaccination, such as in the Pharm.D. program, are still required to be fully vaccinated.

Non-compliance may result in disciplinary action up to and including separation from the University.  

Definitions:

Details:

The University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis (“UHSP”) highly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees, students and faculty. UHSP supports that the COVID-19 vaccines provide good protection against serious illness related to COVID-19 and helps ensure the minimal communicable disease spread within our campus community. Some populations have been determined to be “Vaccine Required Populations” based on their specific role at the University and requirements around teaching and completing academic programs in environments that may require a higher level of vaccination.

This policy is related to COVID-19 only. Additional immunization requirements for professional pharmacy students are described in the Experiential Education Guidelines.

Vaccine Required Populations

Certain populations of employees and students are required to maintain COVID-19 vaccination due to their professional work or academic learning requirements. Employees in this population are determined by Human Resources. Students in this population are determined by the college dean in consultation with Campus Life. Employee and students in the vaccine required populations must provide valid documentation of COVID-19 vaccination (fully vaccinated) or have an approved religious exemption or medical deferment. Note that in some cases a religious exemption or medical deferment may prevent a person from participating in an academic program or work at a clinical site.

As of July 1, 2023, these populations are as follows:

• Employees: Pharmacy faculty with clinical sites requiring COVID-19 vaccination.
• Students: Students in the Pharm.D. program are required to follow vaccination requirements as stated in the Academic Catalog, and further detailed in the Experiential Education Guidelines. This includes full vaccination against COVID-19, following CDC guidance for any booster doses.

Vaccine Proof

Proof of vaccination will be requested for all new “vaccine required population” employees and students. Records will be recorded in the appropriate employee or student recordkeeping system.

UHSP will accept the following documents as proof of vaccination status: 

1. The record of immunization from a health care provider or pharmacy.
2. A copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card;
3. A copy of medical records identifying the person and documenting the vaccination;
4. A copy of immunization records from an authorized public health, state or tribal immunization system; or
5. Other official documentation of the COVID-19 vaccination containing the employee’s name, date(s) of vaccination, and name of the health care provider or clinic site where the vaccine was administered.

Exemptions to Vaccine Requirement

Vaccine Required Populations may request a religious exemption or medical exemption to the vaccine requirement. This exemption may limit their ability to effectively remain employed and/or complete their academic program.

For employees, Human Resources determines if a request qualifies for an exemption for medical reasons or they are entitled to a reasonable accommodation based on a disability or a sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance under applicable federal or state laws.  An exemption request form can confidentially submitted through HR’s UHSP Survey Site: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UHSPEEvaccine.

Pharm.D. students requesting an exemption for medical reasons may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation based on a disability or a sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance under applicable federal or state laws should submit their request through the student health record system. This will be evaluated by trained personnel and communication regarding written approval or denial of the exemption shared with the student. Exemption from immunizations significantly limits eligibility to participate in pharmacy practice experiences during the professional program. It is the student’s responsibility to apply for exemptions or complete paperwork for experiential sites.

Religious: Those seeking a religious accommodation will be required to:

• provide information regarding your traditional, organized religion's beliefs or non-theistic moral or ethical belief system and include why being vaccinated against COVID-19 conflicts with that belief, practice, or observance; or
• upload a letter from your religious leader (or other person who can attest to your sincerely held religious beliefs) that explains why being vaccinated is inconsistent with your sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.

A sincerely held religious belief is one that is either part of a traditional, organized religion such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, as well as non-theistic moral or ethical beliefs as to what is right and wrong, which are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views. Social, political, or personal preferences, or general conscience objections do not qualify as a religious belief. If you have received other vaccinations, you will be expected to explain how or why available COVID-19 vaccines are different under your religious beliefs.

Disability:  Individuals may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation if taking the vaccine  creates a risk of safety or harm to the individual due to a qualified disability.  The request must be supported by a letter from a qualified health care provider.

Medical: The University will follow FDA and CDC guidelines when evaluating exemption requests for medical reasons.  Employees must submit a letter from your primary licensed healthcare provider supporting a medical exemption. Prior infection of COVID-19 does not qualify as a medical exemption.

Records

Human Resources will maintain adequate documentation to substantiate the vaccination status for employees covered under this policy.   COVID-19 related records will be treated as medical records.  Disclosure of medical records may occur only with the consent of an employee, to UHSP employees on a strict need-to-know basis, to respond to a request from OSHA, or as otherwise required by law.

Students in the Pharm. D. program must upload their COVID-19 vaccination records or exemption request through Complio. American Data Bank securely runs background checks and stores training certificates and immunization records for student availability at any time.

Retaliation/Discrimination

University policy and OSHA regulations protect employees from discrimination and retaliation for making a good faith report of a work-related illness or injury, exercising their rights under this policy , or filing a complaint or exercising any rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.  Any individual who knowingly submits a false statement or document in connection with this policy may be subject disciplinary action up to and including separation from the university.

Policy Contacts:

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