As a follow-up to the Nov. 11 announcement of the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), I wanted to provide these updates and reminders to all UTMB employees, students/trainees, volunteers and contractors:

Deadline for vaccination/approved exemption

• Compliance with the federal mandate requires some level of COVID-19 vaccination (at minimum: a one-dose vaccine or the first dose of a two-dose vaccine) or an approved medical or religious exemption by 11:59 p.m., Dec. 5.
• Individuals who want to continue working, studying or volunteering at UTMB as of 11:59 p.m., Dec. 5, must submit documentation of vaccination or have an approved exemption by that time.
• Individuals who receive the first dose of a two-dose vaccine by 11:59 p.m., Dec. 5, must receive the second dose by 11:59 p.m., Jan. 3.
  

Need the vaccine?

• You can schedule your vaccine with UTMB online.
• If you don’t live close to a UTMB vaccination location, you can contact your health care provider, local retail pharmacy or county health department.
• If you obtain a vaccine from a place other than UTMB Employee Health, please scan a copy of your vaccination record to Employee Health or Student Health by 11:59 p.m., Dec. 5.
  

Already vaccinated?

• If you are already vaccinated but received an email from Human Resources indicating UTMB does not have a record of your vaccine, please submit your COVID-19 vaccination documentation to Employee Health or Student Health by 11:59 p.m., Dec. 5.
• This includes individuals who received their vaccine from someplace other than UTMB Employee Health (e.g., your personal UTMB physician, other health care provider, an outside pharmacy).
• If you are already vaccinated and did NOT receive an email from HR indicating otherwise, UTMB has your vaccination on record and you are in compliance.
  

Exemption requests

• We can still accept requests for medical or religious exemptions. However, depending on volume, individuals submitting exemption requests may not receive an answer before the 11:59 p.m., Dec. 5, deadline.
• Exemption requests will be reviewed in the context of these federal guidelines:
  • CDC guidance regarding medical exemptions
  • EEOC guidance regarding religious exemptions

Missing the 11:59 p.m., Dec. 5, 2021, federal compliance deadline

• Individuals who have NOT done the following by the 11:59 p.m., Dec. 5, federal compliance deadline will not be permitted to work, attend class or volunteer at UTMB until compliance with the federal mandate is achieved:
  • Submitted vaccine documentation if requested to do so via email by HR, or
  • Received the vaccine, or
  • Received an approved medical or religious observance, belief or practice exemption.
• These individuals may use paid vacation/holiday/compensatory time accruals (no sick leave) or leave without pay until they achieve compliance with the federal mandate through either an approved vaccine or approved medical or religious observance, belief or practice exemption.
  

The latest information on the CMS federal mandate, including FAQs and exemption request forms, is available online.

UTMB has always supported vaccination to protect our workforce, student body, patients, volunteers and communities, while also respecting the choices of individuals. However, it is essential for us to comply with the CMS federal mandate. Thank you for taking the appropriate action now to preserve our mission.

Ben G. Raimer, MD, MA, FAAP

President