Novel coronavirus information

September 9, 2021

ACTION REQUIRED: COVID-19 vaccination requirement and exemption process

The following messages were sent to UW campus employees who had not yet attested to being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or who had previously claimed a medical, religious or philosophical exemption in Workday:

Message to faculty and other academic personnel

COVID-19 vaccination is now a condition of employment per Governor Inslee’s vaccination proclamation 21-14.1. You are receiving this message because you must take action in order to be able to engage in work for the University of Washington. Follow the applicable instructions below.

I am vaccinated against COVID-19

If you are fully vaccinated, but have not yet completed the vaccination attestation, please do so as soon as possible and no later than Sept. 10, 2021. Failure to verify vaccination status is a violation of university policy and may impact the terms of your employment after the state-imposed deadline of October 18.

I want to request a medical or religious exemption

The Governor’s proclamation allows for reasonable accommodation for medical or religious reasons and adds documentation requirements. If you are requesting one of those exemptions, you must complete a new exemption documentation process, even if you previously claimed an exemption in Workday. Note that the proclamation does not allow for a philosophical exemption and prohibits providing accommodations that are known to be based on false, misleading, or dishonest grounds or information; and/or are based on the personal preference of the individual.

MEDICAL EXEMPTION AND ACCOMMODATION

If you have an underlying medical condition and/or disability that prevents you from receiving an authorized COVID-19 vaccine, your healthcare provider must complete the UW COVID-19 Medical Exemption Form which will be reviewed by UW Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S).

Step 1: Download the UW COVID-19 Medical Exemption Form and complete the Patient section. Ask your licensed healthcare provider (MD, DO, ND, ARNP, PA) to complete the rest of the form and return it to you.

Step 2: Log into the secure Vaccination Exemption Request tool (UW NetID and DUO log-in required) to submit your completed UW COVID-19 Medical Exemption Form.

Step 3: You will be notified by email of the decision.

RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION AND ACCOMMODATION

If you have a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance that prevents you from being vaccinated against COVID-19, you are required to complete the online Vaccine Religious Accommodation Request Form which will be reviewed by the Office of Academic Personnel.

Step 1: Log into the secure Vaccination Exemption Request tool (UW NetID and DUO log-in required) to complete a series of questions required to process your religious exemption request.

Step 2: You will be notified by email of the decision.

I need to get vaccinated

There are many local places where you can be vaccinated, including UW Medicine, doctor’s offices and pharmacies. To be fully vaccinated — and thus in compliance with the requirement by the Oct. 18 deadline — you must start your vaccinations no later than the following dates:

  • First dose of two-dose Pfizer vaccine: By Monday, Sept. 13
  • Single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine: By Monday, Oct. 4 (There is currently a shortage of this vaccine in the state so please consider Pfizer)

The deadline to start the first dose of the two-dose Moderna vaccine was Monday, Sept. 6.

You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your last dose, whether that is the second dose for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. When fully vaccinated, complete your attestation in Workday.

Faculty, librarians and other academic personnel who are unable to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and are not approved for a medical or religious exemption and accommodation will not be able to engage in work for the University of Washington after Oct. 18, 2021 and will be subject to separation from the University of Washington in compliance with provisions of relevant employment policies and labor contracts.

If you have questions, direct them to acadpers@uw.edu. We appreciate your cooperation and support in this effort as we work together to ensure that the University community remains a safe place for everyone.

Sincerely,

Cheryl A. Cameron
Vice Provost for Academic Personnel
Virginia and Prentice Bloedel University Professor
Professor, Oral Health Sciences, School of Dentistry

Message to staff and student employees

This email serves as a reminder that COVID-19 vaccination is now a condition of employment per Governor Inslee’s vaccination proclamation 21-14.1. It is important that you take action in order to maintain employment at the University of Washington. Please follow the instructions below that apply to your situation.

I am vaccinated against COVID-19

f you are fully vaccinated, but have not yet completed the vaccination attestation, please do so as soon as possible and no later than Sept. 10, 2021. Failure to verify vaccination status is a violation of university policy and may impact the terms of your employment after the state-imposed deadline of October 18.

I want to request a medical or religious exemption

The Governor’s proclamation allows for reasonable accommodation for medical or religious reasons and requires employees to complete a new exemption documentation process, even if you previously claimed an exemption in Workday. The proclamation does not allow for a philosophical exemption and prohibits providing accommodations that are known to be based on false, misleading, or dishonest grounds or information; and/or are based on the personal preference of the individual. Please complete your request as soon as possible.

MEDICAL EXEMPTION AND ACCOMMODATION

If you have an underlying medical condition and/or disability that prevents you from receiving an authorized COVID-19 vaccine, your healthcare provider must complete the UW COVID-19 Medical Exemption Form, which will be reviewed by UW Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S).

Step 1: Download the UW COVID-19 Medical Exemption Form and complete the Patient section. Ask your licensed healthcare provider (MD, DO, ND, ARNP, PA) to complete the rest of the form and return it to you.

Step 2: Log into the secure Vaccination Exemption Request tool (UW NetID and DUO log-in required) to submit your completed UW COVID-19 Medical Exemption Form.

Step 3: You will be notified by email if you are approved for an exemption and if so, what the parameters are for your accommodation.

RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION AND ACCOMMODATION

If you have a sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance that prevents you from being vaccinated against COVID-19, you are required to complete the online Vaccine Religious Accommodation Request Form which will be reviewed by UW Human Resources.

Step 1: Log into the secure Vaccination Exemption Request tool (UW NetID and DUO log-in required) to complete a series of questions required to process your religious exemption request.

Step 2: You will be notified by email if you are approved for an exemption and if so, what the parameters are for your accommodation.

I need to get vaccinated

There are many local places where you can be vaccinated, including UW Medicine, doctor’s offices and pharmacies. Employees may use release time as needed to get their vaccine. To be fully vaccinated — and thus in compliance with the requirement by the Oct. 18 deadline — you must start your vaccinations no later than the following dates:

  • First dose of two-dose Pfizer vaccine: By Monday, Sept. 13,
  • Single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine: By Monday, Oct. 4 (There is currently a shortage of this vaccine in the state so please consider Pfizer).

The deadline to receive the first dose of the two-dose Moderna vaccine was Monday, Sept. 6.

You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your last dose, whether that is the second dose for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. When fully vaccinated:

We appreciate your cooperation and support in this effort as we work together to ensure that the University community remains a safe place for everyone. The Governor’s proclamation requires that employees who are unable to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and are not approved for a medical or religious accommodation must be terminated from University of Washington employment on Oct. 18, 2021. Employees will receive notice in advance of their scheduled termination consistent with the rules of their collective bargaining agreement and/or their employment program.

If you have any questions, please contact your HR consultant.

Sincerely,

Mindy Kornberg J.D.
Vice President for UW Human Resources