QUICK READ:
- All employees except those in non-clinical roles in UW School of Medicine must receive the new COVID-19 bivalent booster or complete a declination by Nov. 11, 2022.
- You can schedule a Pfizer or Moderna booster online.
- You can receive your booster and a flu shot at Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center – Montlake or UW Medical Center – Northwest.
- You can submit proof of vaccination from another source if you have already been boosted with the new bivalent booster.
- If you do not intend to receive the booster, you must complete the online declination by Nov. 11, 2022.
In our ongoing effort to provide a safe care environment for our patients and staff, including protection against COVID-19, UW Medicine is requiring that all employees — except for those in non-clinical roles in the School of Medicine — receive the new COVID-19 bivalent booster or complete an online declination process by Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.
The new bivalent boosters from Pfizer and Moderna provide improved protection against COVID-19 by targeting the original strain of the virus and its newer omicron subvariants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that all people ages 12 and older receive a bivalent booster at least two months after completing their primary vaccine series or at least two months after receiving their last monovalent booster dose.
We are requiring broad participation in this campaign, including by employees in remote or hybrid roles.
Employees who have had a recent COVID-19 infection, however, may defer their booster for up to three months from their infection.
Non-clinical employees in the School of Medicine should continue to follow vaccination guidance from UW Environmental Health & Safety.
Schedule your booster
You may schedule your booster through our online portal or by phone, depending on your job classification and role.
- UW Medicine employees may schedule online at c19-vaccine.uwmedicine.org.
- All others, including University of Washington employees, students, contractors, and non-clinical employees in the School of Medicine, may schedule by calling 844.520.8700.
Appointment availability
Appointments are available at our high-volume vaccination sites at Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center – Montlake and UW Medical Center – Northwest. You may also receive your annual flu vaccine during the same visit, as it is safe to get both shots at the same time. To receive both vaccines during one visit, please schedule your booster appointment and during the appointment request the flu vaccine from the clinic staff.
Submit proof of boosters received from outside vaccination sources
- If you’ve received your bivalent booster outside of the UW Medicine Employee Health system, please send a photo of your updated vaccination documentation to Employee Health at boost-uwm@uw.edu by Nov. 11, 2022.
- Electronic copies of your booster record can be obtained online at waverify.doh.wa.gov.
Complete the declination if you do not intend to receive a booster vaccination
- If you do not intend to get the booster and do not have an approved exemption, you must complete a formal declination process by Nov. 11, 2022.
- The declination module can be accessed online at one.uwmedicine.org/coronavirus/Pages/boosters.aspx
We are targeting full compliance with the new booster campaign, just as we do every year with our influenza prevention program. In the coming weeks, our hospital-based Employee Health teams will be reaching out directly to eligible employees who do not have a bivalent booster shot on record.
Employees who have received an approved medical or religious exemption from UW Medicine’s previous COVID-19 vaccine and booster requirements remain exempt and do not need to complete the declination.
New hires who start after the deadline and are eligible to receive the booster will have 10 business days from their official start date to meet the requirement.
If you have questions about anything related to the booster campaign, please email them to boost-uwm@uw.edu. Thank you in advance for your participation in the new booster campaign, and for doing all you can to keep yourself, each other and our patients healthy.
Sincerely,
Timothy H. Dellit, MD
Interim CEO, UW Medicine
Interim Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and
Interim Dean of the School of Medicine,
University of Washington
Cynthia Dold
Interim President, UW Medicine Hospitals & Clinics
Interim Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington
