1. Policy
Issued: March 5, 2021
Last Revised: June 29, 2021
Last Reviewed: June 29, 2021
2. Policy Purpose
The purpose of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program is to protect and support the health and safety of the USC Community including the University’s faculty, staff, students, and patients.
As of March 5, 2021, all University faculty, staff, and students who are on-campus are strongly encouraged to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine when they are eligible to be vaccinated. Employees and students who choose to not be vaccinated must affirmatively opt-out of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination through the appropriate process, described below.
The vaccine will be available, per state guidelines and pending availability, to all University employees and students who are on-campus at no charge.
3. Scope and Application
This policy applies to faculty, staff, and students who work or study on-campus at the University, with the exception of employees who work at Keck Medicine of USC (including but not limited to those who work at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital).
4. Definitions
Defines terms specific to this policy.
| Term | Definition |
| COVID-19 Vaccination Program | Vaccination Program that requires SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations (or for USC’s faculty, staff, and students who are on-campus. |
| On-Campus | For purposes of this policy, a location is considered on-campus if it takes place within USC’s Clery geography, as defined in the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report issued by the USC Department of Public Safety. This includes, but is not limited to, UPC, HSC, USC Village, USC Housing, and the Coliseum. |
5. Policy Details
As of March 5, 2021, all faculty, staff, and students who work, live, visit or study on-campus are strongly encouraged to obtain a vaccination of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine when they are eligible to be vaccinated. Employees and students who chose to not be vaccinated must follow the appropriate process outlined below.
Employees who work at Keck Medicine of USC should refer to Keck Medicine of USC-specific policies related to COVID-19. To be clear, this policy excludes employees who work at Keck Medicine of USC, including but not limited to those who work at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital.
Participation: Faculty, staff, and students must participate in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program at the required intervals by completing one the following steps:
- Receive vaccination on-site when eligible, or
- Provide written documentation of vaccination from an external healthcare facility or clinic (e.g., at a private health care provider’s office or during a vaccine fair), or
- Obtain an approved religious or medical exemption: Fill out the appropriate Religious or Medical exemption form (see Section 7) and submit it to MySHR. Please allow 14 days for your request to be reviewed.
Program Enforcement: Any faculty member, staff, or student subject to this policy who fails to participate in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program by the established deadline of July 15, 2021 will be unable to be on-site in any capacity. Any unvaccinated person, including those with an approved Religious or Medical exemption, will be subject to additional requirements, including but not limited to a requirement to wear a mask indoor on all USC campuses, and to participate in regular testing (once per week for faculty, staff, and graduate students; twice per week for undergraduates) .
Registry and Program Evaluation: Appropriate information about all vaccinations shall be submitted to the California Immunization Registry or such other registries as may be required by applicable public health agencies or University policy.
6. Procedures
Method of submission:
- Faculty, staff, and students upload SARS-CoV-2 vaccination administration documentation through the Electronic Health Record (EHR) portal, MySHR, or
- Faculty, staff, and students who have received a vaccination at any USC Pharmacy or healthcare facility or clinic will automatically satisfy the requirement.
- A Religious or Medical exemption form must be completed by the faculty member, staff, or student (or parent/guardian if employee or student is less than 18 years of age) and submitted to MySHR. Please allow 14 days for your Religious or Medical exemption form to be reviewed and approved.
- Please note that as of August 1, 2021, personal declinations will no longer be valid or accepted. If you submit a personal declination form before August 1, you will be required to either receive a vaccine and submit vaccination documentation OR submit for approval a completed Religious or Medical exemption form (see below for details).
All medical information submitted in course of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program will be kept in a separate confidential file.
7. Forms
Religious Exemption for Required COVID-19 Vaccination
Medical Exemption Request for Required COVID-19 Vaccination
8. Responsibilities
| POSITION or OFFICE | RESPONSIBILITIES |
| USC Student Health | Maintaining and implementing this policy. |
| SVP of Administration | Authorized to issue official university policy. |
| All faculty, staff, students | Expected to comply with university policy. |
| Departments with contractors or visitors | Departments with contractors or visitors should follow any established procedures for contractors or visitors. |
9. Related Information
References:
Cal. Health & Safety Code Division 2, Chapter 2, Article 3.5
CDC COVID Vaccination Program Planning Guidance
CDC Vaccine Recommendation Process
Vaccine Distribution Information
The university will follow state and local guidelines for vaccine distribution. As vaccine supply becomes available, and following vaccine distribution guidelines, the university will communicate vaccination availability and eligibility, locations, and schedules.
10. Contacts
Please direct any questions regarding this policy to:
| OFFICE | PHONE | |
| COVID-19 Hotline | 213-740-6291 | Covid19@usc.edu |
11. Policy URL:
The policy will be listed at policy.usc.edu. This link may be shared in community messages and on the We are SC website.