COVID-19 Policy

Policy requiring COVID-19 vaccination for staff, interns, contractors and trainees.

As a condition of employment, enrollment, and/or access to Washington United to Rise and affiliated facilities, all employees, contractors, interns, and trainees must be immunized by vaccination against COVID-19 unless granted a medical or religious exemption. This policy is designed to protect the health
of those within the United to Rise (U2R) community and to serve as a public health measure for those within the broader community. The COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are highly effective at decreasing the likelihood of contracting COVID-19, preventing serious illness in vaccinated individuals who contract COVID-19, and mitigating spread of the disease.

Current U2R employees, contractors, interns and trainees will be required to provide proof of full vaccination by October 1, 2021. Staffers who join the U2R after August 30 will be required to provide proof of full vaccination within 30 days of their start date.

COVID-19 vaccination is currently available free of charge to all employees, contractors, interns, and trainees at all participating pharmacies. Since you’re obtaining vaccination through other providers will be required to provide documentation as required by the U2R. Only COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO) are acceptable. 

In the event of vaccine shortage, the U2R may modify this policy and related deadlines. The U2R also may implement COVID-related health and safety requirements in addition to mandatory vaccination.

Exemptions

Exemptions to mandatory vaccination may be granted based on certain medical contraindications or on sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances. Individuals seeking an exemption must submit the appropriate exemption request form by the applicable vaccination deadline. If an individual who has received a medical exemption subsequently chooses to receive vaccination, they must provide acceptable documentation of medical clearance before receiving vaccination for U2R.

In order to protect the U2R community, individuals granted an exemption will be subject to conditions or restrictions related to their job or educational responsibilities, facility access, and/or safety requirements. These restrictions are listed as follows; Weekly Covid-19 Testing, continual masking and daily Covid-19 screening. Proof of weekly Covid-19 test will be required every Monday starting October 4, 2021. Those individuals choosing to submit to weekly test in lieu of vaccination must sign a vaccination decline form by September 30, 2021.

Compliance

Staffers who fail to meet applicable deadlines will be prohibited from accessing U2R facilities and will be subject to unpaid suspension for up to 30 days. If vaccination or exemption has not been obtained by the end of the 30-day period, the individual will be subject to further measures, including termination of employment.