Community Notifications

Dear MCPHS Employees,

MCPHS has made the decision to join the growing number of colleges and universities across the region and country to require all employees planning to be on campus for the fall 2021 semester to be fully vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19. Employees must be fully vaccinated by August 31, 2021 unless they qualify for limited exemptions for medical or religious reasons. This decision was made consistent with our position as a comprehensive healthcare university and in accordance with medical and public health experts that vaccines are the most effective way for us to prevent the spread of the virus on campus.

Vaccines are widely available at numerous locations across New England. The CDC website lists resources for finding and making a vaccine appointment. It can take up to six weeks to be fully vaccinated depending on which vaccine is taken, so it is important that employees plan on getting their vaccine accordingly in order to be in vaccine compliance by the end of August.

Once you have received all the requisite dose(s) of your chosen vaccine, you can upload your results through CoVerified or notify your supervisor that you have been fully vaccinated along with the date you became fully vaccinated.

For those with a medical condition or sincerely held religious beliefs that preclude them from getting vaccinated, please consult with Human Resources at HR@mcphs.edu as soon as possible. For employees with a medical condition, you can also refer to the Reasonable Accommodations webpage for more information. If you have other concerns about getting vaccinated, please contact Human Resources.

In addition, all vaccinated employees and students will be required to have COVID-19 testing weekly and wear masks while on campus. For employees and students who have an approved reason not to be vaccinated, they will also be required to wear masks and will be required to have more frequent testing. Unvaccinated employees without an approved exemption will not be permitted on campus.

It is clear that vaccinations are a powerful tool in combatting COVID-19, and requiring vaccines will protect our Community and ensure that MCPHS does its part to achieve population immunity. Thank you for your continued efforts and cooperation. We should all look forward to an energized and vibrant campus in the fall.

Sincerely,
Kevin Dolan
Chief Human Resources Officer
Human Resources

Dear MCPHS Students,

MCPHS has made the decision to join the growing number of colleges and universities across the state and country to require all students to have the COVID-19 vaccine in order to be on campus for the fall 2021 semester. Please note that there are already some clinical sites requiring COVID-19 vaccination, and you will need to follow the site’s requirements with respect to COVID-19 vaccination. Undergraduate and graduate students must be fully vaccinated prior to the start of the fall academic year, unless they qualify for limited exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Information on how to apply for an exemption will be communicated later in the spring. This decision was made in accordance with medical and public health experts and is the most effective way for us to prevent the spread of the virus on campus.

Vaccines are now widely available for those age 16 and older. For those in the United States, the CDC website lists resources for finding and making a vaccine appointment. For international students, MCPHS will work with you to obtain a vaccination once you arrive in the United States. If you would like more information regarding the vaccine, you can contact the MCPHS COVID-19 Team for assistance at COVID19team@mcphs.edu. Additionally, MCPHS will be hosting vaccine clinics on all three campuses; Boston on May 5, Worcester on May 6, and Manchester on May 7. Detailed information on the hours of operation and appointment registration for these clinics will be sent later this week.

It is clear that vaccinations are a powerful tool in combatting COVID-19, and requiring vaccines will protect our Community and ensure that MCPHS does its part to help our nation move toward herd immunity. Updates regarding submitting your proof of vaccination will be communicated to you before the start of the fall semester.

Thank you all for your continued efforts and cooperation and we should all look forward to an energized and vibrant campus in the fall.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Lessard, President

Dear Colleagues,

As vaccines continue to be administered to people across our region and the country, we can start to feel the beginnings of a return to what we remember prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Massachusetts, 54% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine while 59% has received at least one dose in New Hampshire. Nationwide, 43% of the eligible population has received at least one dose. As the CDC, public health officials, and Massachusetts and New Hampshire government officials indicate, the COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help stop the COVID-19 pandemic, and people should receive all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to receive the most protection.

As more people get vaccinated, and as people recover from the COVID-19 virus, we begin to approach what is referred to as “herd immunity.” According to the CDC, herd immunity is “a situation in which a sufficient proportion of a population is immune to an infectious disease (through vaccination and/or prior illness) to make its spread from person to person unlikely. Even individuals not vaccinated (such as newborns and those with chronic illnesses) are offered some protection because the disease has little opportunity to spread within the community.” The faster people get vaccinated, the faster we can reach herd immunity.

MCPHS has made the decision consistent with many other colleges and universities around the country to require students to be fully vaccinated in order to return to campus for the fall 2021. It is less clear at the moment what might be expected of employees. As we look to the fall, we will closely follow guidance from the CDC as well as state and local officials, and we strongly recommend you get vaccinated at your earliest convenience.

To support our own planning now for the fall, it would be helpful to know what percentage of our community has been vaccinated. Not only is this important for our campuses, but it will likely also be a requirement of clinical rotation sites. In some cases, it already is a requirement.

If you have been vaccinated and are willing to share that information, we have an easy way to upload your vaccine documentation. Using the CoVerified app, you can upload a picture of your vaccine card via the “Upload Vaccine Record” link under the “Report” section of the app. If you have questions about accessing and/or using the app, please contact the Help Desk.

Once again, we strongly recommend that you get vaccinated. The CDC website lists resources for finding and making a vaccine appointment. Additionally, MCPHS will be hosting vaccine clinics on all three campuses: Boston on May 5, Worcester on May 6, and Manchester on May 7. Detailed information on the hours of operation and appointment registration for these clinics will be sent later this week.

Thank you all for your continued help and cooperation. We will update you as we get more clarity on the best and safest approach on vaccine requirements for our faculty and staff.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Lessard, President