June 29, 2021 Requesting Proof of Vaccination for Return to In-Person Instruction

Good afternoon Presidians,

I hope you are all enjoying your summer and are looking forward to the fall semester. We’re so excited to finally be able to be back in-person for residency!

Modality selection:

To make sure that we have the correct amount of classrooms and space, we need to know whether you plan to attend in-person or if you are going to stay remote. If possible, it would be most convenient if you could do all 5 residencies in the same modality – either in-person or virtual. But if you need to change the modality for any given residency weekend, you can do so as long as you can provide us with 2 weeks’ notice.

*Note:  All classes will have meeting space including those whose faculty will be remote.

Make your selection for residency attendance no later than July 18 here.

Proof of vaccination:

Consistent with the previous vaccination requirement for in-person residency attendance, students who opt to join us in the Bay Area must submit proof of Covid-19 vaccination as follows:

•  Provide proof of vaccination by August 1 here
• Vaccination exemption requests will be considered based on medical or sincere religious reasons. Exemption must be approved by the human resources office. Please send your request for exemption via email to hr@presidio.edu by August 1st, 2021. Documentation may be requested to consider exemption.

I recognize there may be some questions about the vaccine approval process, so we have prepared some Frequently Asked Questions. You can, of course, reach out to me directly and I am happy to help.

Q: I don’t have an electronic copy of my proof of vaccination. Can I scan it to my computer or take a picture on my phone? Can I upload multiple images?

A: Yes, you may scan or take a picture of your proof of vaccination and upload it directly into the form using your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. If the necessary information requires uploading multiple images (e.g., front and back of your CDC vaccination card), the form has this capability. Once you’ve uploaded the first image, click on “add another file” to upload additional documentation.

Q: What if I lost my vaccine documentation?

A: For any additional documentation, contact the healthcare provider who administered the vaccine. Most states require that vaccine providers keep records on paper or in a database. If you’re unable to get documentation from the provider, contact your state board of health for assistance.

Q: I have obtained a vaccine outside of the United States that is not currently approved by the U.S. FDA. Should I report this and what can I expect?

A: We do not know whether international vaccinations will be considered valid in the U.S. at this time, nor if vaccination abroad will affect eligibility to become vaccinated here in the U.S., but we hope that regulations will develop to enable appropriate recognition. In the interim, it is still valuable for you to   complete the proof of vaccination process if you have received a vaccine abroad, even if it is not authorized at this point by the U.S. FDA. The documentation should include the equivalent information as outlined above. We expect that guidelines for those receiving these vaccines will continue to evolve and encourage those affected to be on the lookout for new advice from the CDC and CA Department of Health. Having your vaccination information on file will make it easier for Presidio to communicate with you if we learn of new guidance.

Thank you so much for your timely response to these requests for Fall 2021 residency. As a reminder, these are the items you must complete:

All Students

In-Person Residency Survey – due July 18, 2021

Students Attending In-Person

Proof of Vaccination – due August 1, 2021

Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Thank you,

Diana