Protecting our community requires all of us to do our part. With that in mind, we are writing to remind you that consistent with Governor Jay Inslee’s vaccination proclamation, all UW Medicine employees (patient facing and non-patient facing alike) will be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19, or receive an approved exemption, no later than Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, as a condition of employment.
Outlined below is information for employees within the hospitals and clinics, as well as clinical support services such as shared services. Non-clinical employees in the School of Medicine should continue to follow guidance from UW Environmental Health & Safety regarding vaccine verification requirements and the exemption process.
If you were vaccinated with UW Medicine through the employee process, you do not have to do anything because your records are already in our system. We also have records for most employees who were vaccinated at the SCCA.
Employees who were vaccinated through the UW patient process via Epic, or through another healthcare provider, must submit proof of vaccination through our scheduling portal at https://c19-vaccine.uwmedicine.org/. Though you may have attested to your vaccination status in Workday, it is critical that employees also confirm their vaccination status directly with our hospital-based employee health programs.
In the next two weeks, we will be making direct contact with individuals who have not yet confirmed their vaccination status. You will not hear from us if our records indicate you are already in compliance. If you have questions about your status, please contact your manager.
Scheduling a first-dose appointment
If you have not yet received the vaccine and would like to schedule your first-dose appointment at one of our hospitals or clinics, you can easily do so through the same scheduling portal linked above.
Please note that to be fully vaccinated — and thus in compliance with the requirement by the Oct. 18 deadline — you must receive:
- First dose of Moderna by Monday, Sept. 6
- First dose of Pfizer by Monday, Sept. 13
- Single dose of Johnson & Johnson by Monday, Oct. 4
Claiming an exemption
Under the new mandate, philosophical exemptions are no longer accepted. Medical exemptions and exemptions for sincerely held religious beliefs will be considered. Medical exemptions require a signed form from a physician, physician assistant or a nurse practitioner. Religious exemptions require the completion of our Religious Exemption Request Form. The religious and medical exemption forms and associated instructions can be found on the UW Medicine scheduling portal https://c19-vaccine.uwmedicine.org/.
Please note that if you previously submitted an exemption request, you will need to resubmit your request because new documentation is now being used.
All exemption claims must be submitted by Tuesday, Aug. 31, to be properly vetted prior to the deadline. If your exemption is denied, you will need to schedule your vaccination as outlined above or be terminated from your job at the end of the workday on Oct. 18, 2021.*
We appreciate your cooperation and support in this effort as we work together to ensure that UW Medicine remains a safe place for all employees, visitors and patients.
If you have any questions, please contact your manager or send an email to human resources at uwm-vaccine@uw.edu.
* Faculty actions will be handled under applicable faculty code procedures.
Sincerely,
Lisa Brandenburg
President, UW Medicine Hospitals & Clinics
Vice President for Medical Affairs
University of Washington
Timothy H. Dellit, MD
Chief Medical Officer, UW Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington and
President, UW Physicians
