UC COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Requirements

UC COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Policy Requirements

As of July 15, 2021 the University of California released a final COVID-19 vaccine policy, which includes boosters (when eligible). What this means for students, faculty and staff (including visiting scholars, postdocs, and visiting students:

• Those with approved exemptions or accommodations come to campus with the requirement that they remain masked in all public settings and comply with the campus testing plan, which at a minimum will be weekly. 

• Those that are in the process of getting their vaccination, not yet fully vaccinated, or are booster eligible but not yet gotten their booster may come to campus with the requirement that they remain masked in all public settings and comply with the campus testing plan, which at a minimum will be weekly until they are considered fully vaccinated and boosted. Some building access may be restricted.

• If you received the vaccine/booster at an off-campus vaccination site, you will need to upload a record of your vaccination to the secure eTang portal as soon as you have received your last dose and have a complete vaccination card. If you were vaccinated/boosted on campus, no further action is required.

More information can be found in the FAQs for students (PDF) and employees (PDF)

Booster Requirement

As of 1/3/22: The UC system announced that the current UC COVID-19 vaccination policy requires faculty, staff and students to obtain a booster shot as soon as they are eligible. Our campus expects all faculty, staff, and students who are eligible to get their booster no later than the start of instruction on Jan. 18

If you are booster eligible but you’re not able to get the booster by Jan. 18 there will be a grace period until Jan. 31 before the campus access badge will reflect non-compliance with the booster policy and those who are booster eligible but not yet boosted will be required to do weekly COVID surveillance testing. 

Students are reminded that compliance with the vaccination policy is a condition of being physically on campus. Faculty and staff are reminded that compliance is a condition of employment. Please review the instructions for how to update your vaccination record in eTang with your booster information.

For those who have recently tested postive for COVID-19, it is recommended that you get your COVID booster once your symptoms have resolved and you've met the criteria to end isolation — and the recommended time has elapsed since your primary series of either Pfizer and Moderna (5 months) or J&J (2 months).

If you tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days, please follow the exemption process outlined below to request an exemption from the policy until it is advised that you get the booster.

Booster Guidelines 

As of 1/13/2022 (subject to change)

For those at least 16 years of age and older:

NOTE: If you have already received a FULL WHO-approved vaccine series AND a booster, meaning you have already had three doses (e.g., two doses of Sinopharm plus a dose of Pfizer), we at UHS are not able to give you any additional doses at this time since you are already fully vaccinated and boosted. You are welcome to seek additional doses elsewhere.

Exemption Forms and Process

The policy allows for exceptions to COVID-19 vaccination based on a Medical Exemption, Disability Accommodation, or Religious Objection; pregnant individuals may also request a deferral if they wish for the duration of the pregnancy. Those that receive a vaccine mandate exception (for medical or religious reasons) will need to wear a face-covering inside campus buildings and will need to be tested at least once per week.

The forms and processes below are for students, faculty, and staff. 

Medical Exemption/Disability/Deferral Request Forms 

• To request a Medical Exemption/Disability/Deferral use those forms (also found in eTang Downloadable Forms):
  • For Students:  Medical Exemption/Disability/Deferral Request Form - Students 
  • For Faculty and Staff: Medical Exemption/Disability/Deferral Request Form - Faculty and Staff   
• Once your medical provider has completed and signed the document, you need to upload it to eTang in the Downloadable Forms section.
• Medical exemption requests will be evaluated individually by the UHS Medical Director and approved exemptions will be processed to update compliance with the COVID-19 vaccine policy.
• A list of established medical contraindications to vaccination can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for Guide to Contraindications.

Religious Belief Objection

• To request a Religious Belief Objection, use this UC Berkeley Religious Belief Objection Form.

• Requests will be reviewed and it may take a few days for your compliance status to be updated. You will be contacted if additional information is needed.

Remote Study Students - COVID-19 Exception Request Form

For students who are studying remotely for Spring 2022 and will not be coming to campus for any reason, at any time through May 31, 2022, you can complete an attestation form in eTang, under Downloadable Forms.  You may also be asked to provide documentation from your academic department confirming that you are studying remotely and will not be on campus.   

For Spring 2022  Admits/Re-admits:  Temporary enrollment hold lift for COVID-19 vaccine requirement 

Spring 2022 admits and re-admits may request a temporary enrollment hold lift if you meet either of the following;

1. You are an international student living in a country with limited or no access to WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines, and will not have time to complete a WHO-approved vaccine series before the start of the semester once I arrive in the United States.

2. You received the first dose of a multi-dose COVID-19 vaccine series, and need to wait the requisite amount of time in between doses.

Please complete and submit this form by uploading on eTang under messages.