COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Fall 2022 Deadlines for COVID-19 Vaccine Verification

Newly admitted students are required to upload proof of COVID-19 vaccination to the student health portal by the following dates in order to register for classes. Upload proof of any doses received even if your vaccination or booster series is not yet complete.

Undergraduate Students: Friday, July 15
Graduate Students: Thursday, August 11
Undergraduates admitted after July 15: Friday, August 12

Students who are vaccinated against COVID-19 but not yet eligible for their booster dose will be permitted to register provided that proof of vaccination is received and verified by the corresponding deadline above. Individuals who are not currently eligible for the booster must submit proof within two weeks of their eligibility date.

Exemption Requests

Any student who is unable or unwilling to receive an FDA-approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccine (for students in the U.S.) or the WHO Emergency Use Listing (for students outside the U.S.) due to a disability or sincerely held religious practice, belief, or observance, may request an exemption to this policy by contacting the Health and Wellness Center in advance of the dates above to receive an exemption application.

In addition to the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine and booster, full-time undergraduate students must comply with all Whittier College healthcare requirements including other vaccines.

All newly hired staff, faculty, and contracted workers must submit proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 as instructed by Human Resources. 

Employees and contracted workers unable or unwilling to receive an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine due to a disability or sincerely-held religious practice, belief, or observance, may request an exemption by contacting Human Resources. 

Employees and contracted workers who receive an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement must participate in regular COVID-19 testing. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action.

Residents of California can book a vaccination appointment via the California Department of Public Health's My Turn website.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides vaccine appointment information for all states and counties in the United States.

Minors under the age of 18 require consent from a parent or guardian to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Acceptable proof of full COVID-19 vaccination includes a scanned copy or photo of your vaccination card (which includes the name of the person vaccinated, type of COVID-19 vaccination provided, lot number, clinic site, and date the last dose was administered) or documentation of full vaccination against COVID-19 from a healthcare provider (which includes the name of the person vaccinated and confirms that the person is fully vaccinated against COVID-19).

Domestic Students

Students residing in the United States should submit their documentation to the Student Health and Wellness Center via the health portal. All medical information submitted in the course of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program will be kept in a separate confidential file in the Student Health and Wellness Center.

International Students

Students traveling to Whittier from another country or location where they may not have had an opportunity to be vaccinated prior to their arrival on campus can contact the Student Health and Wellness Center to receive assistance with access to the vaccine.

For individuals who have been vaccinated in another country, Whittier will accept immunization records for all vaccines recognized by local public health officials, in accordance with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Presently this includes vaccines authorized for use by the World Health Organization. 

International students who received a partial dosage (incomplete series) of a vaccine not offered in the United States, such as AstraZeneca, are advised to re-vaccinate with a U.S.-approved vaccine at least 28 days after receiving the original dosage abroad.

Instructions

Students must upload proof of vaccination to the Student Health Portal.

1. Go to My.Whittier.edu
2. Click on Student Health Portal under Quick Links
3. Click COVID Vaccine Requirement
4. Upload proof of vaccine
5. Select the COVID vaccine you received (Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, or a WHO-approved vaccine and input the date(s) received

If you encounter problems uploading your vaccination proof, call the Student Health and Wellness Center at 562.464.4548 for assistance.

Faculty, staff, and contracted workers

Documentation should be submitted via email to the Human Resources Department. All medical information submitted in the course of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program will be kept in a separate confidential file in Human Resources.

Individuals who receive an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement will be required to undergo regular COVID-19 testing.

We understand that there are many questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. The following sites offer some useful information. 

• The Conversation: COVID-19 - Curated by professional editors, The Conversation offers informed commentary and debate on the issues affecting our world.
• Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines (CDC)
• Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine (CDC)
• How the COVID-19 Vaccine Works (CDC) 
• Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines (CDC)
• Vaccine Schedules (LA County Public Health)