Policy Overview

Keck Graduate Institute (KGI), to limit the spread of infectious diseases during this unprecedented time, is requiring an influenza and COVID-19 vaccination for all staff, faculty, and students. This policy supports KGI’s ongoing commitment to our community’s safety and helps protect our faculty, staff, students, and their families from the unnecessary spread of the viruses.

Policy

The Institute’s policy requires all faculty, staff, and students to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine and annual influenza vaccination, or possess an approved medical or religious exemption.

All individuals covered by this policy must be vaccinated or granted an exception by August 1 (COVID-19 vaccine) and November 1 (Influenza vaccine) of each year.

The administration may suspend or revoke all or part of this policy at any time. Students in a program with a clinical component cannot be exempted, due to the requirements set by hospital and clinic sites. 

Purpose

To protect faculty, staff, students, and their family members from seasonal infections through annual immunization of all parties’ subject to this policy and infection control precautions.

Submissions

All students are required to submit their COVID-19 and influenza vaccine information to a secure online site, EXXAT or Complio, dependent on the academic program.. COVID-19 vaccine deadline is August 18 and influenza vaccine deadline is November 1.

Coverage

Most health plans provide coverage for routine health maintenance vaccinations, including seasonal influenza vaccine, without copays. Please check with your health insurance provider.

If you have questions about where to obtain vaccines, please email student_affairs@kgi.edu.

Exemptions

KGI may grant exceptions to immunization for a medical reason or religious beliefs. Students in a program with a clinical component cannot be exempted, due to the requirements set by hospital and clinic sites.

Requests for medical or religious accommodations will be handled through Student Accessibility Services Coordinator at student.accessibility@kgi.edu. Exceptions are given for one year only. The individual must reapply each year.

For those granted an exception, a face mask or shield must be worn throughout the influenza season in any geographic location where there might be contact with faculty, staff, and students, including entrances, elevators, meeting rooms, bathrooms, the KGI Café, etc. Mask use is required for all unvaccinated faculty and staff to maintain compliance with this policy. Influenza season is defined by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) as of November 1 through April 30.

In addition to wearing a face mask or face shield, an individual’s KGI identification badge will be marked to allow supervisors and other staff and faculty to validate who should be wearing a mask.

Medical Exemption: A medical waiver must be signed by the healthcare provider and returned to Human Resources.

Religious Exemption: A religious exemption to immunization may be granted as an accommodation based on an individual’s sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.

Records will be maintained documenting vaccinations and waivers.

Medical Exemptions

A list of established medical contraindications to and precautions for flu vaccine can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, Guide to Contraindications, online at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/contraindications.html and currently includes:

Contraindications: Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of influenza vaccine or to a vaccine component.

Precautions: Guillain-Barré Syndrome <6 weeks after a prior dose of influenza vaccine.

• Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever.

• Egg allergy other than hives, e.g., angioedema, respiratory distress, lightheadedness, recurrent emesis; or required epinephrine or another emergency medical intervention (IIV may be administered in an inpatient or outpatient medical setting and under the supervision of a health care provider who can recognize and manage severe allergic conditions).

Any medical exemption request must be documented on the Medical Exemption Request Form and submitted to the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator by emailing student.accessibility@kgi.edu.

Acknowledgment

All students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the policies and procedures associated with the vaccination process.

Compliance

Any student covered by this policy who fails to comply with its requirements will be denied access to all KGI facilities during the annual influenza season. Failure to comply with this policy constitutes a violation of the KGI’s Student Honor Code and students may be subject to disciplinary sanctions, including probation, suspension or expulsion, and student organizations may lose their recognition.

Volunteers and service providers regularly engaged to perform services on KGI’s campus will also be required to show proof of vaccination. Failure to comply will result in denied building access to all KGI facilities.

Temporary guests and visitors to KGI will be exempt from this policy.

Any student who returns from an extended leave during the vaccination period will be given two (2) work-weeks to allow time for compliance with this policy.

I have read the above policy and understand that compliance with KGI COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination Policy is mandatory. I understand that I will be requested to submit the verification to Human Resources. Under this policy, employees must receive an influenza vaccination. The only exceptions are for a medical, personal, or bona fide religious exemption.