Masks are strongly recommended indoors the first two weeks of each quarter.
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Updated: Oct. 31, 2022

Verification | Deadlines | Booster shots | Exemptions | Privacy protections

The University of Washington requires students and personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Who is required to be vaccinated?

Students

All students, including students in fully online programs, are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they receive an approved medical or religious exemption or are enrolled in a program specifically excluded in the policy.

Personnel, including student employees

Full COVID-19 vaccination or an approved medical or religious exemption is a condition of employment and/or a University-paid appointment at the University of Washington. This applies to all personnel who receive compensation from the University such as wages, stipends, or fees, unless specifically excluded in the policy.

On-site suppliers, vendors, contractors and volunteers

As of Nov. 1, 2022, volunteers, suppliers, vendors or contractors working on site at a UW facility are no longer required to be vaccinated, however vaccination is strongly recommended for these groups.

Visitors

While there is not a blanket requirement for visitors to a UW campus or facility to verify their vaccination status, health care facilities do require visitors to have no new COVID-like symptoms or be awaiting results from a COVID test taken as a result of symptoms or a known exposure.

 

Verify your vaccination status

Students

Students are required to verify their vaccination status through the secure COVID-19 vaccination verification form linked below. If they are employed by the University, they must also verify their vaccination status as described in the next section (“Personnel, including student employees”).  After answering a few questions about your vaccination, you will then upload documentation – such as a vaccination card or other proof of vaccination – for review by the UW’s Hall Health Center. The deadline to upload your documentation is prior to orientation and registration for the next quarter. You will not be able to enroll in classes until you complete this requirement.

  • Exception: Students in health sciences programs requiring participation in the Health Sciences Immunization Program (HSIP) should follow the processes and deadlines of the HSIP, instead of completing the Hall Health Center verification. A list of HSIP-participating health sciences programs is available on the HSIP webpage.
  • Students who are also employed by the University need to complete the student form and have their vaccination status verified through the process for employees outlined below.
  • Students planning to be vaccinated should wait until after receiving their last shot before completing the verification process.

Students who submit false or inaccurate information during the verification process are subject to disciplinary procedures that can include dismissal from the University.

student vaccination verification

Having trouble with the vaccination verification form? Check out the latest known technical issues for troubleshooting help, or email help@uw.edu with “COVID Form Question” in the subject line.

Personnel, including student employees

The University requires that employees and others subject to the requirement provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their final dose of a primary vaccine series.

At the UW, the vaccination verification process is coordinated at the department/appointing unit level and facilitated by your Workday HR Partner, Academic Partner or I-9 Coordinator. These are the only roles authorized to verify proof of vaccination. Vaccination documentation or exemption requests are reviewed as part of the hiring process for new employees.

The COVID-19 vaccine verification webpage provides additional details about the vaccination verification process for personnel.

UW Medicine personnel

UW Medicine follows the UW-wide requirement, with the additional requirement that employees document receiving a COVID-19 vaccine booster or complete a declination. More information is available via UW Medicine’s The Huddle.

Booster shots

A booster shot of a coronavirus vaccine is strongly encouraged for everyone age 6 months and over. UW employees are allowed to use up to two hours of paid work time to get a booster shot.

The University has not added a booster shot requirement to its definition of “fully vaccinated.” Any changes to the University’s overall vaccination requirements will be made in accordance with changes to health conditions and/or state and local public health requirements. UW Medicine employees should follow UW Medicine’s booster policy.

Deadlines

Students

Students must have completed the Student COVID-19 Vaccine Verification form or submitted a request for an exemption prior to registering for classes.

  • Exception: Students enrolled in health sciences programs that participate in the Health Sciences Immunization Program (HSIP), which has earlier deadlines.
  • A hold will be placed on class registrations if the vaccine verification form has not been completed or an exemption requested.
  • Students who are temporarily unable to complete a full primary COVID-19 vaccine series for reasons beyond their control (such as living in a country without access to WHO-approved vaccines) may request a deadline extension. Extensions will only be provided to allow sufficient time to become fully vaccinated upon arrival on campus, or as appropriate to each individual situation. Extension/exemption requests related to a medical condition require submission of a COVID-19 vaccination medical exemption request form, not a deadline extension request.

Personnel, including student employees

Personnel, including student employees

For UW personnel, vaccination is a condition of employment as of Oct. 18, 2021.

All personnel are required to receive the primary COVID-19 vaccine series or have a University-approved medical or religious exemption. Compliance is a condition of employment and/or a University-compensated appointment. A “condition of employment” means you cannot be employed by the University if you are not vaccinated and do not have an approved exemption.

Final candidates learn about the vaccination requirement and the medical and religious exemption process during the conditional offer of employment stage. The medical and religious exemption process for current employees is closed.

Individuals unable to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 due to participation in a COVID-19 clinical trial and those who reside in countries other than the United States who are unable to get vaccinated against COVID-19 with reasonable effort and expense are exempt from this requirement.

Exemptions

Exemptions may be sought for documented medical conditions and sincerely held religious beliefs. Philosophical exemptions are not allowed for students or personnel. Individuals who receive exemptions may be required to follow additional safety measures.

Students

Students with a medical condition or deeply held religious belief that prevents them from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine are required to submit a COVID-19 Medical or Religious Exemption Request to UW Hall Health Center. Students who are temporarily unable to get vaccinated for reasons beyond their control may submit a Temporary Extension Request Form. The deadline to provide this documentation is prior to orientation and registration. If you are seeking an exemption, you will not be able to enroll in classes until you upload one of the forms below.

Note: Students enrolled in health sciences programs that participate in the Health Sciences Immunization Program (HSIP) should follow HSIP processes and deadlines.

Medical Exemption requests

  1. Download the COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Form and complete the Patient section. Meet with your licensed healthcare provider to discuss your exemption request, have them sign the form and return it to you. The licensed health care provider can be a medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), naturopathic doctor (ND), advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) or physician assistant (PA).
  2. Save the completed and signed form in a PDF format under 25 MB.
  3. Submit your request and upload the form via the secure portal.

Religious Exemption requests

  1. Download the COVID-19 Vaccination Student Religious Accommodation Request Form and complete the Patient section. Meet with your licensed healthcare provider to discuss your exemption request, have them sign the form and return it to you. The licensed health care provider can be a medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), naturopathic doctor (ND), advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) or physician assistant (PA).
  2. Save the completed and signed form in a PDF format under 25 MB.
  3. Submit your request and upload the form via the secure portal.

Temporary exemption requests

  1. Download the COVID-19 Vaccination Student Temporary Extension Request form to request a deadline exemption.
  2. Save the completed and signed form in a PDF format under 25 MB.
  3. Submit your request and upload the form via the secure portal.

Personnel, including student employees

Communicate to your hiring manager or recruiter that you wish to request a medical or religious exemption.

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).

  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.
  2. Submit your completed UW COVID-19 Medical Exemption Form using the link provided by your hiring manager or recruiter.
  3. You will be notified by email of the decision, and if approved for an exemption you will also be notified of the enhanced safety measures you will need to take.

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 UWHR (for staff, academic student employees, and hourly student employees) or the Office of Academic Personnel (for faculty, librarians and other academic personnel.)

  1. Complete the religious exemption form in the Vaccination Exemption Request tool through the link provided to you by your recruiter or hiring manager.
  2. You will be notified by email of the decision, and if approved for an exemption you will also be notified of the enhanced safety measures you will need to take.

Privacy protections

Vaccination attestation information is private and confidential:

  • Vaccination information is considered confidential medical information under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is exempted from disclosure under the Public Records Act.
  • Managers may not use, share or disclose this information for any purpose other than upholding compliance with state regulations.
  • Employees may not ask colleagues about their vaccination status.
  • Instructors may not ask their students about their vaccination status, nor will they have access to students’ records or be expected to confirm students’ vaccination status.

More information on COVID-19 vaccines