UVA New Hire COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements and Guidelines
See below info for the separate vaccination requirements and/or guidelines for UVA Health team members and Academic Division employees. UVA Wise employees should refer to Academic Division guidelines for information that pertains to you.
Note: Masks are optional for all employees unless you are a Tier 1 UVA Health team member.
The University of Virginia is committed to protecting the health and safety of our UVA community members and patients. As such, UVA expects all Tier 1 employees, including new hires, to be partially vaccinated against COVID-19.
UVA Health team members, including clinicians, faculty and staff who will be working at the Medical Center, UVA Physicians Group, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and Health System Library, are responsible for ensuring their compliance with the
requirements of UVA Health Policy OCH-002. Details of how this applies to vaccination against COVID-19 are below.
All newly hired UVA Health Tier 1 team members who follow policy OCH-002, including clinicians, faculty and staff who will be working at the Medical Center, UVA Physicians Group, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and Health System Library, are required to be fully vaccinated* against COVID-19 (some exceptions apply) in order to be eligible for hire.
*For Tier 1 team members, ‘fully vaccinated’ is defined as having completed a 2-dose mRNA series, a 1-dose J&J vaccine, or an approved course of a WHO-recognized COVID vaccine.
Team members who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will no longer be required to complete weekly prevalence testing at this time. There is a possibility that prevalence testing will be reinstated in the future if warranted by changes in COVID-19 case numbers and other factors. As a reminder, prevalence testing is separate from diagnostic testing, which is performed on individuals who have symptoms, have possibly been exposed to COVID-19, or otherwise have been directed to get tested. Read about team member diagnostic testing options.
For full details about boosters, including FAQs, visit the UVA COVID-19 Booster Information webpage.
All newly hired UVA Health Tier 2 team members are strongly encouraged, but not required, to complete primary vaccination and to submit documentation of completed primary vaccination.
All team members (including Tier 1 and Tier 2) are strongly encouraged, but not required, to receive a booster dose of vaccine six (6) months after completing primary vaccination with Pfizer or Moderna vaccine OR two months after receiving J&J vaccination dose and such other booster or additional doses as may be recommended by the CDC.
For full details about boosters, including FAQs, visit the UVA COVID-19 Booster Requirement webpage.
You may apply for a medical or religious exemption from vaccination. However, some medical and safety sensitive positions require vaccination and are not eligible for an exemption. If you would like to apply for a medical or religious exemption, please complete this request form.
If you will be working on Grounds at least on occasion, you will be required to conduct weekly COVID-19 prevalence testing and subject to mandatory masking requirements - even if you were granted a medical or religious exemption from vaccination. See prevalence testing information in the next FAQ.
How to apply for an exemption will be discussed during your orientation.
Team members who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will no longer be required to complete weekly prevalence testing at this time. There is a possibility that prevalence testing will be reinstated in the future if warranted by changes in COVID-19 case numbers and other factors. As a reminder, prevalence testing is separate from diagnostic testing, which is performed on individuals who have symptoms, have possibly been exposed to COVID-19, or otherwise have been directed to get tested. Read about team member diagnostic testing options.
Newly hired team members can meet the requirements of the OCH-002 policy by:
Please contact your UVA Recruiter if you have questions.
All Academic Division employees (including faculty and staff, wage and temp workers, Wise employees, part-time and full-time) who follow policy SEC-045: COVID-19 Health & Safety Requirements – Vaccination, Testing, Face Masks, Events and Gatherings, and Visitors, are strongly encouraged to receive COVID-19 vaccine(s) and booster.
Academic employees who follow OCH-002, refer to the UVA Health information section above. This applies to those whose job-related activities require them to be present in UVA Health facilities at any time in a given calendar year. If you are unsure which policy applies to you, please contact your hiring manager.
You are not required, but it is strongly encouraged to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Please note that some medical and safety-sensitive positions require vaccination and are not eligible for exemption. If you are unsure which policy applies to your position, please contact your hiring manager.
There are several ways to find vaccine providers near you, including these methods published by the CDC.
All Academic Division employees (including faculty and staff, wage and temp workers, part-time and full-time) who follow policy SEC-045 are strongly encouraged to receive a COVID-19 booster, but it is not required.
Please contact your UVA Recruiter if you have questions.
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