Covid-19 Vaccination Policy

Purpose

With the improving state of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been changes to federal, state and local COVID-19 vaccination mandates that directly affect Jefferson students.

Policy Statement

Thomas Jefferson University requires students who are clinical (participate in educational activities involving patient exposure or activities within a healthcare facility) to have completed a COVID-19 primary vaccination series. All new non-clinical students throughout Thomas Jefferson University are no longer required to have completed a COVID-19 primary vaccination series as per the Philadelphia Department of Health.

The University continues to adhere to public health guidelines in an ongoing effort to keep the campus community safe and healthy and reserves the right to impose additional measures.

Scope

This policy applies to all full-time, part-time, matriculated, and non-matriculated clinical students at Thomas Jefferson University. Clinical students are defined as students participating in educational activities involving patient exposure or activities within a healthcare facility.

Components

Medical Exemption

A request for a medical exemption must be submitted to Student Health Services. The request must be submitted on the Jefferson Request for Medical Exemption/COVID-19 Vaccination form. The form must be completed by the student’s treating healthcare provider. Following the submission of the form and any other required documentation, Student Health Services will notify the student if the exemption has been approved and if so, whether the exemption is considered permanent or provisional.

Students who have received a medical exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and have any on-campus activities, may be subject to additional safety measures such as, but not limited to, surveillance testing.

Religious Exemption

A request for an exemption based on a sincerely held religious belief must be submitted to Student Affairs and the Dean of Students Office using the Jefferson Request for Religious Exemption/COVID-19 Vaccination form. Student Affairs or the Dean of Students will notify the student if the exemption has been approved and if so, whether the exemption is considered permanent or provisional.

Students who have received a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and have any on-campus activities, may be subject to additional safety measures such as, but not limited to, regular surveillance testing.

Compliance

Incoming Students

Clinical students will be prompted to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination or to file for a medical or religious exemption prior to their term of enrollment. Vaccine information for students from East Falls, New Jersey, and Bucks campuses should be submitted to the COVID-19 Student Vaccine Database. Vaccine information for students from Center City or Dixon campuses should be submitted with your Medical Records via Jefferson Occupational Health Network (JOHN). Students are highly encouraged to submit requests for religious or medical exemptions early so that requests may be reviewed and determined in advance of the start of the academic year. Non-compliance may impact a student’s academic progression and may violate the University’s Community Standards..

International Students

Clinical students from an international location can meet the Jefferson vaccination requirement after receiving a WHO-approved vaccine for Emergency Use Listing (EUL), in addition to any FDA-approved vaccine available in the United States.

Clinical Rotations & Experiential Learning

This policy pertains to clinical students who will have on-site activities at Jefferson campus locations. Jefferson students may be subject to different vaccination regulations for non-Jefferson clinical rotations or academic experiences. Some clinical training locations that are not part of Thomas Jefferson University require that all students, including visiting students, be “up-to-date” with COVID-19 vaccination. (“Up-to-date” is defined by CDC as having completed a COVID-19 primary vaccination series and the most recent booster.) As a result, students are strongly encouraged to become “up-to-date” in anticipation of rotating at one or more of these outside training locations.

If you are a student in a program requiring clinical rotations or experiential learning and have received an exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine, please note that some of our partners may choose not to accept students who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. If this occurs, Thomas Jefferson University will endeavor to find students a suitable placement in a setting not requiring the COVID-19 vaccine. However, this could result in a delay in the completion of your required hours, which may lead to deceleration or delayed graduation.