Dear Tritons,
Yesterday, Chancellor Khosla sent
a message to all students with more information about the University of California’s
approved COVID-19 vaccination policy. For the safety and well-being of the entire university community, the policy will require, with few exceptions, that
all students, faculty and staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 before they will be allowed on campus or in a facility or office.
Full compliance with the policy is required by September 6, 2021, two weeks before the start of the fall term.
How do I comply?
You will need to be fully vaccinated (defined as two weeks after your final dose of vaccine) by September 6, 2021. The process for documenting your vaccination status – or applying for an exception or deferral – can be found in the sections below. Please submit requests for exceptions or deferrals as soon as possible and no later than September 2, 2021, in order to comply by September 6, 2021.
Vaccine Documentation Process
Students are required to provide
proof of vaccination, using MyStudentChart to confirm accuracy of vaccination records or to self-report vaccination status for doses administered outside of UC San Diego Health.
All returning UC San Diego graduate and undergraduate students (including student employees) are required to follow the steps listed below.
- Log into MyStudentChart.
- Select the “Menu” button and choose “COVID-19” under the “My Record” header.
- Review and confirm that your COVID-19 vaccination record is correct.
- If correctly recorded, proceed to “verify your vaccination information in MyStudentChart” (Step 4).
- If incorrectly recorded and you got your vaccines at UC San Diego Health, send a message to “Ask a Nurse” by clicking on the “Messages” icon in the toolbar.
- If incorrect or incomplete and you got your vaccine outside of UC San Diego Health (i.e. Kaiser), please self-report with photo proof of your vaccination.
- To self-report, select the “Menu” button and choose “Immunizations and Screening” under the “My Record” header.
- Select which vaccine you received, enter date(s) of each vaccine shot and upload a photo of your vaccine card or other proof of vaccination.
- Note: incoming students are able to self-report COVID-19 vaccination alongside their other required vaccines (TB, tetanus, etc). However, if you have submitted your non-COVID vaccinations already, please follow the process above to self-report your COVID-19 vaccine information also.
- Verify your vaccination information in MyStudentChart.
- If your vaccination meets the UC COVID-19 mandate requirement, your vaccination status will be shared with UC San Diego on August 20. There is nothing else you need to do to meet the mandate.
- Vaccination information submitted after August 20 will be treated in the same way. Please submit your vaccination information as soon as possible and no later than September 2 to ensure you meet the mandate deadline.
- If you do not wish to share your vaccination information with UC San Diego, please email the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs by no later than August 20.
Exceptions and Deferral
The
University of California COVID-19 vaccination policy allows for medical exceptions consistent with CDC guidance and manufacturer labeling on contraindications and precautions. Faculty, staff and students will also be eligible to request accommodations based on disability or religious belief, and deferrals are available for those who are pregnant.
Requests for exceptions or deferral should be submitted as soon as possible. Exceptions or deferral requests should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than September 2, 2021, so that they are time-stamped to meet the September 6, 2021 deadline.
Students who wish to request an exception or deferral should visit
UC San Diego’s Services & Support portal. All exceptions or deferral requests must come through Services & Support, where you will be asked to input your personal information and select the form that best meets your needs. You will then receive an email with the exemption/ exception/ deferral form(s) that needs to be completed by you (and a medical provider, when applicable) and returned to
studentcovidmandate@health.ucsd.edu.
Those with approved exceptions or deferrals may return to their location with the requirement that they will follow
campus guidelines for reducing the transmission of COVID-19, which include measures such as masking, testing and daily symptom and exposure screening.
Definitions of exceptions and deferrals:
- Medical Exemption: An excuse from receiving COVID-19 vaccine due to a medical contraindication or precaution.
- Disability: A physical or mental disorder or condition that limits a major life activity and any other condition recognized as a disability under applicable law. “Disability” includes pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition where reasonable accommodation is medically advisable.
- Religious Objection: A covered individual’s objection to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine based on that person’s sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.
- Deferral: An approved deferral of vaccination based on pregnancy. Pregnancy deferral will extend throughout the term of the pregnancy and until the covered individual returns to work or instruction, as applicable.
- Partially Vaccinated: An individual who has not completed their two-dose vaccine series, or who received their final dose fewer than two weeks ago.
What if I don’t comply with the mandate?
Students who choose not to be vaccinated – and who do not have an approved exception or deferral – potentially put the health of others at risk. These individuals will not be allowed on campus and may face progressive disciplinary actions. Those who are partially vaccinated are permitted on UC San Diego property, with the requirement that they follow all
campus safety guidelines for reducing the transmission of COVID-19, including measures such as masking, testing and daily symptom and exposure screening.
Where can I learn more?
Firm, but fair.
We recognize that our policies on campus are more conservative than those in surrounding areas, and we would like to stress that
this abundance of caution has allowed us to minimize viral transmission on campus and positions us for returning primarily to in-person learning this fall. Throughout the pandemic, UC San Diego’s proactive strategies – coupled with your diligence – proved effective, as our
campus’s positivity rates have consistently remained far below county and state averages.
I cannot stress enough how much I appreciate your patience, and I thank you again for continuing to do your part to show that Tritons Care for Tritons. For any questions you have, please contact
vcsa@ucsd.edu.
Be well,
Alysson M. Satterlund
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
