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Academic division employees of the University will have until Jan. 4 to complete a full COVID-19 vaccination course — a change from the previous deadline of Dec. 8, according to a Tuesday email from Provost Liz Magill and Chief Operating Officer J.J. Davis. The new deadline aligns with guidance from President Joe Biden’s administration released Nov. 4.
The University announced Oct. 21 that all full-time and part-time employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19 in accordance with Biden’s Executive Order 14042, which requires employees of organizations with federal contracts such as the University to be fully vaccinated. The rule applies to companies with 100 or more employees and is expected to cover 31 million unvaccinated workers nationwide.
“As we previously have said, compliance with President Biden’s executive order is vital to ensure that we do not risk losing millions in federal contract dollars that support important research and education work here at U.Va.,” the email said.
Barring approved religious or medical exemptions, all University employees, including those working remotely, are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Before the vaccination requirement was implemented, employees could participate in weekly prevalence testing as an alternative to getting vaccinated.
More than 95 percent of University employees are already fully vaccinated. Following the Jan. 4 deadline, anyone who has not complied with the vaccination policy will face disciplinary action, which could include unpaid leave or termination.
To comply with the deadline, employees must receive their first shot of the Moderna vaccine by Dec. 7, first shot of the Pfizer vaccine by Dec. 14 or the single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Jan. 4.
All students were required to submit proof of vaccination by July 1 prior to coming to Grounds this semester. U.Va. Health announced Aug. 25 that all employees needed to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1, meaning that they had to have completed their full vaccination course by Oct. 18.
On Oct. 22, the University announced that its mask mandate requiring all students, faculty, employees and visitors to wear masks inside University buildings would be extended through the remainder of the semester.
According to the University’s COVID-19 tracker, as of Tuesday, there are 22 active cases of COVID-19 within the University community, 9 of which are students. 28 patients are currently hospitalized for COVID-19 at U.Va. Health.