COVID-19 vaccination a condition of employment
Last updated: November 1, 2022
The University of Washington requires all employees, whether on-site or remote, to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment unless:
- a documented medical or religious exemption is approved; or
- an individual resides in countries other than the United States of America and is unable to get vaccinated against COVID-19 with reasonable effort and expense.
Information on this page applies to staff, academic student employees and student employees only. The Office of Academic Personnel provides information about how the proclamation applies to faculty and academic personnel.
Employees may meet this requirement by providing proof of having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with World Health Organization (WHO) authorized COVID-19 vaccines. Please contact EH&S at emphlth@uw.edu or 206-616-3344 regarding the requirement or Employee Health at the medical centers if you have questions about which vaccines are WHO authorized.
Employees are considered “fully vaccinated” if they are at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen.
Exemptions
The UW allows for reasonable accommodation for medical or religious reasons as outlined below. A philosophical reason is not an acceptable exemption reason.
Medical accommodation: A request for an exemption from the vaccination requirement as an accommodation due to an underlying medical condition and/or disability that prevents the employee from receiving an authorized COVID-19 vaccine. Employees requesting a medical exemption from the vaccination requirement are required to have their healthcare provider complete a statement that includes the anticipated duration of the need for accommodation.
Religious accommodation: A request for an exemption from the vaccination requirement as an accommodation for an employee who has a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance that prevents them from being vaccinated against COVID-19. Employees requesting a religious accommodation are required to provide the UW with a statement explaining how their religious observance, practice or belief necessitates the request for accommodation and prevents the employee from receiving an authorized COVID-19 vaccination.
The UW will not provide accommodations that are known to be based on false, misleading, or dishonest grounds or information; and/or are based on the personal preference of the individual and not on an inability to get vaccinated because of a disability or a conflict with a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.
Process
New hires to University employment may meet this requirement by providing proof of vaccination by your fourth day of employment or requesting an exemption at time of offer. For more information about COVID-19 vaccine verification for campus employees, please visit the Verification of COVID-19 vaccination for authorized Workday roles webpage for campus employees. Medical centers employees will receive information about the vaccine verification process in the new hire confirmation letter.