Update on Deadline for COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Employees
Chancellor Boyce sent a message Tuesday to faculty, staff and student employees to share clarified guidance issued by federal officials that permits the university to allow unvaccinated employees to continue to work after the Dec. 8 vaccination deadline “through a limited period of counseling and education.” Under the new guidance, employees do not need to be removed from the workplace unless these efforts result in “continued noncompliance.” Consistent with the latitude provided by the new guidance, university employees who are not fully vaccinated as of Dec. 8 will be allowed to continue working for the limited period referenced above and will not be placed on a leave of absence. Read the complete message. See FAQs for additional information.
How to Submit Your Vaccination Record
Employees must provide the university with proof that they have been fully vaccinated. The vaccination record must be uploaded to the vaccination record website by Nov. 24. The vaccination record must include verification of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Employees should not submit the record until the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine has been administered.
- Link to submit your vaccination record: https://forms.olemiss.edu/vaccination-record
- Steps for uploading your vaccinated health record: https://hr.olemiss.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/93/UploadingVacRecord.pdf
You must submit a picture of your vaccine card, no matter where you were vaccinated. The submission portal is secure and confidential. The document will be handled as sensitive and confidential, and it will not be intermingled with Employee Health records. The vaccination record will be reviewed for legibility and employees will be alerted via olemiss.edu email if the image is deemed invalid.
If you cannot recall your single-sign on login information, visit the IT Helpdesk at 100 Weir Hall with a picture ID.
If you need a replacement vaccination card, visit the MS State Department of Health (MSDH) website and login to or create an account with MyIR (My Immunization Records) to print your immunization record.
How to Request a Medical or Religious Exemption
To prevent delays in processing requests for medical or religious exemptions and enable the university to be in compliance with the Executive Order, requests for an exemption must be filed by Wednesday, Nov. 17. The submission portal for exemption requests is secure and confidential. Documents will be handled as sensitive and confidential. Instead of uploading, you can print the form, complete it, and hand deliver it to EORC, 120 Lester Hall.
Medical exemption
Requests for medical exemptions from COVID-19 vaccination will be evaluated by a panel to determine whether the employee’s request meets the exemption requirements. Medical exemptions will be evaluated based on medical considerations. In accordance with Executive Order guidance, requests will be handled according to the same process as a disability accommodation and reviewed under applicable legal standards for reasonable accommodation requests absent undue hardship to the University.
- UM COVID Medical Exemption Request Form
- Once completed by you and your health care provider, the request can be submitted using the university’s secure Box folder system at this link: Box File Upload for Exemption Form.
Religious exemption
Requests for exemption based on religious belief will be considered and decided by a panel of decision-makers that is coordinated by the University of Mississippi’s Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance (EORC) office. To be eligible for an exemption, you must first establish that your request is based upon a sincerely held belief that is religious in nature. An exemption is based on whether the request meets the requirements to be exempt from the vaccine requirements, and will not be granted if the reasons are based upon personal preference, concerns about the possible effects of the vaccine, or political opinions.
- UM COVID Religious Exemption Request Form
- Once you have completed the form, it can be submitted using the university’s secure Box folder system. Follow this link: Box File Upload for Exemption Form.
Pfizer and J&J COVID-19 On-Campus Vaccine Clinics Scheduled
All vaccine clinics will be held at Johnson Commons.
Upcoming Pfizer vaccine clinics
Nov. 9, 1-3 p.m.: Make 11/9 Pfizer appointment.
Nov. 17, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Make 11/17 Pfizer appointment.
Nov. 19, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Make 11/19 Pfizer appointment.
Nov. 30, 1-3 p.m.: Make 11/30 Pfizer appointment.
Upcoming Johnson & Johnson vaccine clinics
Nov. 4, 2-4 p.m.: Make 11/4 J&J appointment.
Nov. 5, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Make 11/5 J&J appointment.
COVID-19 Testing
On campus, 6 days a week
The university continues to offer FREE COVID-19 testing for symptomatic or asymptomatic students, faculty, and staff at the University-Oxford Depot on campus Monday-Friday from 3-7 p.m., and this Sunday from 12 noon-4 p.m. See the full schedule and more details here. To schedule your test:
- Text “2020” to 833-991-3009 OR click on this link: http://86borders.com/l/68415e8f
- Complete the Testing Intake Form
- You will receive a confirmation # to present at the testing site
- Show up (with your University-affiliated ID) any day, any time during testing hours that week.
Additionally, the University Health Center continues to offer COVID testing on campus. Call Student Health at (662) 915-7274 or Employee Health at (662) 915-6550 to schedule a test.
Oxford/Lafayette County
MSDH offers FREE testing at the Oxford Conference Center Monday through Friday. More info and available appointments are posted here. Or, you can see this list of clinics around town that offer COVID testing.
Featured FAQ: What does it mean to be fully vaccinated to comply with the Executive Order?
An individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-shot series, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the J&J/Janssen vaccine.
News Stories and Resources
- CDC recommends pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years (CDC)
- Vaccination offers higher protection than previous COVID-19 infection (CDC)
- Monoclonal antibodies can prevent serious COVID-19 illness (MSDH)
- All COVID-19 vaccine booster types now available in Mississippi (MS Today)
- Pharmacy Health Services provides care and resources during pandemic (Ole Miss News)
COVID-19 Data
- MSDH reported the following information for COVID-19 cases in Mississippi (as of Nov. 2):
- 395 new cases, 6 new deaths and 30 long-term care facilities outbreaks.
- Mississippi Vaccination Report (as of Nov. 3):
- 3,027,848 total doses administered; 1,554,185 people receiving at least one dose; and 1,381,357 people fully vaccinated.
- Lafayette County: 60,111 Total Doses Administered; 27,290 People Fully Vaccinated, 51% of Total Population Fully Vaccinated.
- UMMC COVID-19 Patient Status (as of 11/2)
Quick Links
- UM Vaccine Information Page
- UM confirmed COVID-19 cases among employees and students
- UM COVID-19 Dashboard
- Results from University-Oxford Depot testing