In September, President Biden signed an executive order mandating the implementation of several COVID-19 safety protocols for federal contractors. The White House then provided additional details on Nov. 4 regarding the vaccination policies outlined in the executive order.
Through our contractual obligations with the federal government, West Virginia University and WVU Research Corp. must comply with the executive order, which requires certain faculty, staff and students to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
The executive order calls for any full-time or part-time employee working on or in connection with an applicable federal contract to be included in the mandate.
All personnel working on specified government contracts will be subject to President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate as implemented by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force.
Further, all WVU Research Corp. and WVU Research Office employees must comply with the vaccine mandate because their general duties and responsibilities support these federal contracts.
By Jan. 4, 2022, those employees identified as subject to the federal mandate must have:
Received their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine;
Received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine;
Received their full regimen of a COVID-19 vaccine listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization; or
Completed the process granting them a medical or religious exemption consistent with West Virginia state law.
Beginning today (Tuesday, Nov. 16), those employees identified as subject to the federal mandate will be contacted via email by the Division of Talent and Culture with more information and instructions.
Note: This process likely will continue on an ongoing basis in the coming days and weeks as many federal agencies amend their contracts to comply with the executive order.
Upon notification from Talent and Culture, employees identified as subject to the mandate will need to verify their vaccination status with WVU via a vaccine verification portal specific to federal contractors.
Those employees who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will need to provide a copy of one of the following documents as proof of immunization when verifying their vaccination status:
A record of immunization from a healthcare provider or pharmacy;
Medical records documenting the vaccination;
Immunization records from a public health or state immunization information system; or
Other official documentation verifying vaccination with information on the vaccine name, date(s) of administration and the name of healthcare professional or clinic site administering vaccine.
Those employees who wish to seek a medical exemption must complete an exemption form and have it signed by a medical provider. Similarly, employees who wish to seek a religious exemption must complete an exemption form and have it notarized by a notary public.
Faculty and staff who currently are working on a federal contact should monitor their email for more information. In the meantime, employees may contact talentandculture@mail.wvu.edu with any questions about the federal mandate.