The University of California has decided to require all students and employees to receive influenza vaccines by November 1, 2020.
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, where COVID-19, like influenza, results in respiratory symptoms, it is even more critical than usual to assure widespread vaccination. As California progresses through its roadmap, the possibility of an outbreak or surge that overwhelms the health care system and causes hospitals to adopt crisis standards of care necessarily increases –as of July 20, 2020, thousands of new cases are being reported every day and hospitals are experiencing shortages of testing supplies and medications necessary to treat COVID-19. Population-level interventions that decrease the likelihood of disease transmission, hospitalization, and ICU utilization must therefore be considered and adopted where feasible.
1. Each campus shall strongly encourage universal vaccination for all students, faculty, staff, and their families by October 31, 2020. Subject only to the exemptions and processes described below or in Attachment A:
a. Deadline. Effective November 1, 2020, all students, faculty, and staff living, learning, or working at any UC location must receive a flu vaccine.
b. Students. The Immunization Policy is hereby amended to add influenza vaccine to the list of required vaccines for the duration of a statewide or any local public health emergency declared in response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Student exemption requests shall be adjudicated consistent with the ImmunizationExemption Policy.
c. Employees. Effective November 1, 2020, no person employed by the University or working on-site at any location owned, operated, or otherwise controlled by the University may report to that site for work unless they have received the 2020-2021 flu vaccine or an approved medical exemption. Requests for disability or religious accommodations will be adjudicated through the interactive process consistent with existing location policies and procedures.