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President Biden’s Executive Order Requiring Coronavirus Vaccines

Note: More recent COVID-19-related communication may supersede specific information in this announcement.

[See New Deadline to Comply With Federal Order Requiring Coronavirus Vaccines for Updated Information (November 8, 2021)]

October 25, 2021

Colleagues,

On September 9, 2021, President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14042, which requires vaccination against COVID-19 for certain employees of federal contractors, like Rutgers. In order to comply with this executive order, as well as the subsequent guidance issued by the Federal Worker Safety Task Force, all Rutgers employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 8, 2021.

President Biden’s executive order supersedes other state or local rules, regulations, laws, or executive orders, and provides limited exemptions from the vaccination requirement for medical or religious reasons. It does not allow for a regular testing option for those employees who choose not to be vaccinated. The University will consider requests for exemptions from the executive order’s vaccination requirement for medical or religious reasons. However, if you are not granted an exemption for a medical or religious reason, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 8, 2021.

Employees are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving the final dose of a vaccine approved or authorized for emergency use in the United States or a vaccine that has been listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO). Authorized vaccines include those from Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca.

Vaccines continue to be a critical tool that help offer us the safest environment possible during the global pandemic.  Vaccination against COVID-19 protects the health and safety of all members of the University community, including students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors.

How to Upload Your Vaccination Information

For the more than 90 percent of Rutgers employees who have already uploaded their vaccine records, no further action is required. If you are one of the few remaining Rutgers employees who has not yet uploaded proof of vaccination, please take a few minutes and upload your documentation to https://rtr.ipo.rutgers.edu/vaccines. Uploading your documents is simple and easy. If you cannot locate your vaccination information, it may be retrieved through the New Jersey Department of Health at https://njiis.nj.gov/core/web/index.html#/requestImmunizationRecord.

Those seeking a medical or religious exemption are encouraged to do so immediately, but no later than November 8, 2021. Further information can be found at https://policies.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/100-3-1-current.pdf.

Providing proof of full vaccination by December 8, 2021, is not optional. Failure to provide proof of full vaccination or receive a University-approved exemption by December 8, 2021, will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Vaccination Deadline

If you need to be vaccinated, please do so immediately. In order to meet the required December 8, 2021, deadline, please note the following:

  • Those choosing to have the Moderna vaccine must get their first dose by October 27, 2021.
  • Those choosing to have the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must get the first dose by November 3, 2021.
  • Those choosing to have the single-shot Johnson & Johnson must get their shot by November 24, 2021.
  • Those choosing to have a vaccine that has been listed for emergency use by WHO should assess the necessary timing to comply with the December 8, 2021, deadline.

Where to Get Vaccinated

Vaccines are widely and readily available at most health care providers, clinics, or local pharmacies. Rutgers also offers free COVID-19 vaccines to eligible individuals at clinics in Camden, Newark, and Piscataway. No insurance card is required, and walk-ins are accepted. Information on scheduling can be found at https://rutgershealth.org/covid19-vaccine.

Stay safe,

Antonio M. Calcado
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer