University of Western States complies with laws and regulations related to public health and the provision of health care services including the Oregon Health Authority’s administrative rule OAR 333-019-1010.
In compliance with this rule, UWS is required to collect information about COVID vaccination status for any individual who works, learns, studies, assists, observes or volunteers in the UWS Health Center or an Oregon-based CBI site. This information includes proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or documentation of a medical or religious exception.
COVID-19 vaccination forms for students are collected by the office of student success during new student onboarding. Employee forms are collected by the office of human resources.
Acceptable proof of vaccination documentation originates from a tribal, federal, state or local government, or a health care provider, and must include the following information:
- The individual’s name,
- The individual’s date of birth,
- Type of COVID-19 vaccination given,
- Date or dates given (depending on whether it is a one-dose or two-dose vaccine), and
- The name/location of the health care provider or site where the vaccine was administered.
Documentation may include, but is not limited to, a COVID-19 vaccination record card, or a copy or digital picture of the vaccination record card, or a print-out from the Oregon Health Authority’s immunization registry.
Vaccination documentation is considered protected health information and is maintained in a confidential manner in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.
More information can be found in Policy 1022 Vaccination Requirement in the UWS Health Center.
Need to request an exception from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement based on religious beliefs or medical conditions? Complete one of these request forms and submit along with your new student document packet in SignNow:
Medical Exception Request Form | Religious Exception Request Form
FAQs
When is the Oregon Health Authority’s administrative rule in effect?
OAR 333-019-1010 is a permanent rule, in effect beginning January 31, 2022.
What do I need to submit to fulfill the vaccination requirement?
You need proof of vaccination, or the medical or religious exception form, as described above, and your PowerCampus system ID to complete the form. You can find your PowerCampus ID by logging in to my.uws.edu with your UWS username and password; selecting your profile in the upper, right-hand corner; and clicking on the “Account” tab. The system ID is 9 digits. This is a required field when you submit your documentation.
What is the deadline to submit proof of vaccination?
Please upload your documentation as soon as you receive notice from the office of student success or the office of human resources that it is required.
New students have until the end of their first term at UWS to complete their required one- or two-dose vaccination sequence. A registration hold is placed on the student’s account if a student does not meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirement prior to matriculation. The student must submit proof of vaccination or request an exception to have the registration hold removed.
Can I claim an exception to COVID-19 vaccination?
Yes, you may provide documentation to request a medical or religious exception using the forms provided above. A medical exception must be verified on a form prescribed by the Oregon Health Authority and signed by an appropriate medical provider operating within their scope of practice. Within the form, the signing provider must certify that the individual has a physical or mental impairment that limits the individual’s ability to receive a COVID-19 vaccination based on a specified medical diagnosis, and that specifies whether the impairment is temporary in nature or permanent. The form may not be signed by the individual who is seeking the exception. You can access the medical exception form here: Medical Exception Request Form.
A religious exception must be corroborated by a document, on a form prescribed by the Oregon Health Authority, signed by the individual stating that the individual is requesting an exception from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement on the basis of a sincerely held religious belief and including a statement describing the way in which the vaccination requirement conflicts with the religious observance, practice or belief of the individual. You can access the medical exception form here: Medical Exception Request Form.
Any health care provider (including student interns) or health care staff member that is granted a medical or religious exception, as described above, will be provided reasonable measures to reduce the chances of unvaccinated health care providers and health care staff from contracting and spreading COVID-19.
Who is required to submit proof of vaccination or documentation of a medical or religious exception?
Anyone at UWS that is defined as a health care provider or health care staff, which includes all individuals working within the UWS clinic system in both direct and indirect patient care including:
- Clinical educators and assessors in the UWS Health Center.
- Students and student interns who are learning, studying, assisting, observing or volunteering in the UWS Health Center or an Oregon Community Based Internship (CBI) clinic.
- Administrative, reception, billing, security or facilities staff who work in the UWS Health Center.
- Student employees scheduled under work study shifts within the clinic.
Can I attest to being vaccinated in lieu of uploading documentation?
No. Personal attestation is not an acceptable form of proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
I previously contracted COVID-19 and may have some level of immunity due to previous infection. Am I still required to submit proof of vaccination?
Yes. The requirements of OAR 333-019-1010 are not satisfied from previous COVID-19 infection, and you must either provide documentation of vaccination or request exception.
How does the university maintain proof of vaccination or exception documentation?
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or exception documentation is stored in a secure UWS document management system, and access is limited to UWS personnel who have a legitimate business need to view the information. OAR 333-019-1010 requires that UWS maintains proof of vaccination for two years and that UWS provides such documentation to the Oregon Health Authority upon request.
Proof of vaccination documents are maintained in a confidential manner in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.
