COVID-19 Update: Vaccine Portal Reminder

July 27, 2021

Dear SLU community members,

First, thank you.

Thank you to everyone who has submitted their required proof of vaccination via our online portal.

And thank you to everyone who has taken the time to ask questions, send your thanks and who, frankly, reads the emails we share with you. Finding our way during this new part of the pandemic has been no less difficult than our journey prior to vaccine availability. But it has reminded me why SLU students, faculty and staff make such a special community.

With only five days left until the deadline to submit your proof of vaccination or your medical exemption request, I again want to remind you to use the online portal to provide your documentation. The portal allows you to quickly and easily upload proof of vaccination or a letter from your healthcare provider for your exemption request.

Reminder: Proof of vaccination includes an image of your completed CDC COVID-19 vaccine card, or of a vaccination card provided by the vaccination site where you had obtained a World Health Organization-approved COVID-19 vaccine.

We know that the summer is tough for email engagement. Starting today, we are using a text service to further alert students –– employees will start getting text messages tomorrow –– reminding them to check their emails and upload their proof of vaccination. If you have a colleague or friend who doesn’t use email during the summer and doesn’t text, please help remind them of this looming deadline.

As we have shared before, there will be a very brief grace period for submitting proof, but we strongly encourage everyone to aim for the Aug. 1 deadline.

The sooner you submit your proof, the more likely you are to win something from our lottery of awards.

Here are some common questions we are receiving at this time:

• What if I am abroad and cannot get vaccinated yet? Please email pandemic@slu.edu and let us know what your plan and timeline are to get vaccinated. We will work with you to make accommodations.
  
• I’m ready to get vaccinated. Where do I go? We still have multiple opportunities for you to do so on campus. Schedule your vaccination appointment here. You can also get vaccinated at most pharmacies, including Walgreens, CVS and Target. Search for COVID-19 vaccines in your hometown here, using your zip code.
• When can I expect to hear about my medical or religious exemption request? We have not yet processed any of the medical or religious exemption requests. The work to review them is happening now, and we hope to have decisions communicated to faculty, staff and students in the coming week or so. We know that those of you who have requested an exemption are anxious to hear the outcome. Should your exemption be denied, you will be provided a grace period to come into compliance.

Looking ahead to the next few weeks, we anticipate sharing additional communication and guidance with you that includes, but is not limited to:

• Details about required COVID-19 testing at move-in for students who receive an exemption from our vaccine requirement or are otherwise not yet fully vaccinated
• Guidance on COVID-19 safeguards for the fall semester
• Guidance on events for the fall semester

As always, please email pandemic@slu.edu with any questions.

Stay safe and be well,

Terri Rebmann, Ph.D., RN, CIC, FAPIC
Special Assistant to the President
Director, Institute for Biosecurity
Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
College for Public Health and Social Justice