Employee Vaccinations

Vaccine FAQs Index>>

Will the COVID-19 vaccine be mandatory for UMMS employees?
Updated 12/8/20

No, all COVID-19 vaccines will be voluntary for UMMS employees at this time. As we have said, we will not promote the distribution of any vaccine that does not have the full backing of the FDA, the CDC and our own internal experts. However, out of respect for our workforce, this is not something we will mandate. Our hope is that – as a science-minded community – you will review the facts once available and come to the determination on your own that receiving the vaccine is entirely safe, and ultimately, the only way to achieve protection for our patients and each other.

Why are flu shots mandatory for UMMS employees, but the COVID-19 vaccine is not?
Updated 12/18/20

Our highest priority is always to protect our employees, patients and the communities we serve. Many of our patients are especially vulnerable to adverse outcomes as a result of the flu. The best way to ensure we protect our patients and ourselves from the flu is by getting the annual flu shot. Research indicates that flu vaccination coverage of a high proportion of the population by increasing mass immunity can protect people with weakened immune systems and other vulnerable individuals. Making flu vaccination mandatory was a step taken by UMMS and many other health systems in Maryland and other states several years ago, based on research showing that voluntary vaccination did not achieve the desired high coverage among healthcare workers.

As we have previously stated, the COVID-19 vaccine is not currently mandatory for UMMS employees. These vaccines are made available for use under the EUA, but individuals are required to give consent in order to be vaccinated and therefore have the right to refuse the vaccine. We encourage everyone to do their own research, review the facts and consult with their physician as appropriate in making the decision to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. UMMS – in partnership with our colleagues at the University of Maryland, Baltimore – has determined it is safe and appropriate to begin our own COVID-19 vaccination effort.

If I decline the vaccine now, can I change my mind?
Updated 12/14/20

Employees who initially decline vaccination at the time that it is offered who later request the vaccine, will have an opportunity to be vaccinated at a later date.

Where can I find more information to help inform my decision about whether to get vaccinated?
Updated 12/12/20

We encourage all UMMS employees to be curious about the COVID-19 vaccine and learn more about the science behind this vaccine. Please visit the Vaccine Resource Center on the UMMS Insider at intra.umms.org/vaccine and check back often to make sure you have the latest information. In addition, we will hold another staff webinar on Friday, December 11, during which we hope to share additional information on the vaccine candidate and details regarding vaccine administration at UMMS.

What if I have tested positive for COVID-19? Am I still eligible to receive the vaccine?
Updated 1/25/21

Yes, people with a confirmed prior COVID-19 infection will still be considered candidates for vaccination but should wait to get the COVID-19 vaccine until at least completing the recommended isolation period. 

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within 10 days of your appointment for either the first or second dose of the vaccine or have an active COVID-19 infection at the time of your appointment, you will not be eligible to get the vaccine until you have completed the isolation period. To prevent transmission of COVID-19, if you are sick due to COVID-19, please reschedule your appointment.

Although the duration of protection from antibodies post-infection is not yet known, the CDC suggests that those with a recent (within 90 days) COVID-19 infection may choose to delay vaccination in order for those who remain susceptible in the absence of prior infection to be vaccinated first. We do not know the duration of the vaccine efficacy, but it has been shown to provide protection in volunteers previously exposed to COVID-19.

What do I need to do in preparation for my vaccination?
Updated 2/24/21

Prior to your appointment, please make sure you review and complete the following steps:

  • Consult with your physician for guidance related to individual medical conditions (e.g., if you have any allergies, fever, a bleeding disorder, or if you are immunocompromised).
  • If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding, it is recommended that you consult with your physician to discuss the risks and benefits prior to being vaccinated.
  • If you have a history of immediate or severe allergic reaction to anything – especially another vaccine or injectable medicine – it is strongly recommended you consult your doctor to ensure they recommend proceeding with vaccination.
  • If you have a MyPortfolio account, complete your check-in via the portal. When you check in, you can also read and sign the consent form in preparation for your appointment.
  • Once you have scheduled, inform your manager of the date/time of your appointment to ensure we are able to maintain appropriate patient care and hospital operations.
  • Please ask your manager for your Employee ID # if you do not know it, as you will need to provide that at your vaccination appointment.
  • Ensure you have not received a non-COVID vaccine in the 14 days prior to your appointment or do not plan to get one in the 14 days after.
  • Ensure you have not received COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy or convalescent plasma in the 90 days prior to your appointment.
  • Ensure you are not presenting after a recent high-risk COVID-19 exposure while still within your recommended quarantine period.

Read the Employee Fact Sheet for more information about how to prepare for your appointment and what to expect after.

What factors should I discuss with my doctor if I have a history of allergic reactions?
Updated 12/24/21

An immediate allergic reaction of any severity to a vaccine or injectable medicine is considered a precaution by the CDC. In other words, you may be at higher risk of having a reaction to the vaccine.

Your doctor can help you weigh the possible risk of anaphylaxis following COVID-19 vaccination with your risk of getting COVID-19. Things to consider before you get the vaccine: 

  • Are you at high risk of being exposed to COVID-19?
    • Are you at higher risk of exposure because you live in a congregate setting or long-term care facility?
    • Do you work in a job that is high risk (for example, frontline health care)? 
  • If you were to get COVID-19, what is your risk of developing serious illness? 
    • Does your age group and/or underlying medical conditions (for example, diabetes, obesity) put you at higher risk for severe COVID-19?  
  • Have you recently recovered from COVID-19 (within the past 90 days)?

What do I need to bring with me to my vaccination appointment?
Updated 3/11/21

On the day of your appointment, you will need to:

  • Have your Employee ID # handy.
  • Wear short sleeves under your coat for ease of access to the injection site in your upper arm.
  • Be prepared to share demographic information (age, sex, ethnicity) to comply with state and federal regulations.
  • If you are getting a two-dose vaccine, review your work and personal schedules prior to your appointment so you are ready to schedule your second vaccination (vaccination appointments will take approximately 45 minutes). You will need to schedule your second shot while on site following your first vaccination. If you receive a one-dose vaccine, you will not need a second shot.
  • Be prepared for a 15-minute observation period following your vaccination (the observation period is 30 minutes for individuals with a history of anaphylaxis or allergy to another vaccine or injectable medicine).

How will I schedule my second vaccination if I receive a two-dose vaccine?
Updated 3/4/21

If you get a two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), you will be required to schedule your second vaccination on site following administration of your first. It is critical that you look at your personal and work schedules prior to your appointment and come prepared to schedule that second appointment.

To help people keep track of their COVID-19 shots, the CDC has developed a wallet-sized vaccine reminder card that will be provided to everyone after receiving their first shot. The card will include the date and time of your second shot, as well as the date, time, and administrator of your first. Please hold onto this reminder card and bring it with you to your next appointment. You will also receive an appointment reminder in MyPortfolio.

If you receive the first COVID-19 vaccine dose for Pfizer or Moderna, is it guaranteed that you will receive your second dose?
Updated 3/11/21

Yes, once you receive the first dose, you will be scheduled to receive your second dose. We are administering doses on hand as they become available to us and will receive more vaccine for all employees to receive their first and second doses. Employees do not need to worry that there will not be enough vaccine for them to receive their second dose. Employees who get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will not need to get a second dose.

What if I am not able to get my second dose 21 or 28 days after my first dose?
Updated 2/4/21

It is important to understand that while the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines must be given at least 21 or 28 days apart, respectively, the vaccines will still be effective if you get your second dose beyond this minimum interval. Current CDC guidance says people can receive their second dose up to 6 weeks after the first. The efficacy of the vaccine will not be impacted if you get your second dose beyond the 21- or 28-day window.

What should I do if I get COVID-19 after the first dose of vaccine and before the second dose?
Updated 12/18/20

If you become infected with COVID-19 in the period between your first and second doses, we recommend you wait to receive your second dose, as the CDC suggests that recent COVID-19 infection (within 90 days) may choose to delay vaccination so those who remain unprotected can be vaccinated first. Ultimately, you will still need to make sure you receive your second dose to achieve full immuno-protection.

If I am vaccinated but then have a high-risk COVID-19 exposure, how will that be managed?
Updated 3/11/21

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that in addition to preventing symptomatic disease, vaccination may also prevent asymptomatic infections and transmission of COVID-19 to others. UMMS recently updated its guidance for team members who are fully vaccinated and have a high-risk exposure to someone with COVID-19. Under the revised guidance, these team members are no longer required to quarantine as long as they remain asymptomatic, but testing remains important. Please view the full guidance here.

If I am fully vaccinated and am experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, do I need to quarantine or get tested?
Updated 03/11/21

Yes. Fully vaccinated individuals are protected against severe COVID-19 and death. While people who are fully vaccinated are at lower risk for COVID-19 infection, if you experience symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please isolate yourself from others and get tested for SARS-CoV-2 if needed.

If I have been vaccinated, am I allowed to follow the CDC’s recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals?
Updated 03/11/21

UMMS team members who have been fully vaccinated may follow these revised CDC guidelines when interacting with others outside of the workplace. For the safety of our team members, patients and care partners, while in UMMS facilities, team members should continue to follow UMMS infection prevention guidance, including our universal masking policy. The CDC will update these guidelines routinely as more people are vaccinated. However, the current guidelines only provide allowances for unmasked interactions in small, controlled, private settings and are not to be interpreted of loosening of restrictions when out in public or in settings with people who are not vaccinated and at high risk for severe COVID-19.

Will the vaccine consent form be hard copy or electronic?
Updated 12/14/20

For our employee and patient populations, we will be utilizing an electronic consent form through Epic. Please review and pre-sign in advance of your appointment.

Will I have to pay for the vaccine?
Updated 12/12/20

The COVID-19 vaccine will be free of charge for all UMMS employees.

If I get a two-dose vaccine, how can I be sure I receive the correct vaccine for my second dose?
Updated 03/11/21

Vaccine administration will be tracked on a system level, through our own electronic medical records platform (Epic), as well as on a state and national level, through a platform called ImmuNet.

Will I get a COVID-19 vaccination card if I get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Updated 03/11/21

Yes. Even though you will not need a second dose, you will get a COVID-19 vaccination card that documents your vaccination, including the date, vaccine you received and who administered your shot.

I am scheduled to receive my COVID-19 vaccination and just learned that I had an exposure to a COVID-19-positive individual. Can I still get my vaccine?
Updated 12/18/20

This would be determined by the risk level of your exposure. If you were determined to have a high-risk exposure within the prior two weeks and have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, you should not be at work and you should follow the quarantine and SARS-CoV-2 testing guidance from Infection Prevention and Employee Health.

For lower risk exposures for which quarantine has not been recommended, you may still receive the vaccine as long as you have no symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19. If you have any symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19, please leave work and contact the UMMS Employee Screening hotline for testing.

If you are unsure of the risk level of your exposure to COVID-19, please contact your facility’s Infection Prevention of Employee Health department before scheduling vaccination.

I want to protect my vaccine card, should I laminate it?
Updated 04/28/21

We do not recommend laminating your vaccination card. If your vaccine information is recorded on the card using a printed label, laminating the card could burn the label, making it illegible. Also, as the research on immunity becomes clearer, you may require a booster shot in the future, which will need to be recorded on the card. The best way to protect your vaccine card is by keeping it in a secure location. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that you make a backup copy by taking a photo of the card.

Do I need to carry my vaccine card with me?
Updated 04/28/21

In most cases, no. Instead, we encourage you to keep your vaccine card in a secure location. While there is a lot of discussion about so-called “vaccine passports” and what documentation will be required in the future to travel, attend events, go to school or participate in other in-person activities, these policies are still being developed and vary widely by state, venue or business.

Help – I’ve lost my vaccine card. What should I do?
Updated 04/28/21

If you can’t find your vaccine card, don’t worry, your COVID-19 vaccine information is not lost! All COVID-19 vaccinations are required to be documented in the state’s immunization information system (IIS). The CDC recommends first reaching out to the provider who administered your COVID-19 vaccine. They may be able to help you get a replacement card. If they are not able to help, you can contact your state’s IIS through the state health department. The CDC has a full listing of IIS contact information on its website.

Team members who have been vaccinated through an UMMS clinic can also access their vaccine information through MyPortfolio. You can find information on accessing your MyPortfolio account, including contact information for MyPortfolio support, on our team member COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet.

Can I post a selfie with my vaccine card on social media to celebrate getting the vaccine?
Updated 04/28/21

While we understand your excitement about helping end COVID-19, please do not share photos of your vaccine card online. Your vaccine card is part of your medical record and contains sensitive health care information. The Federal Trade Commission warns that while the information on your card might not seem top secret, it could contain the missing puzzle piece a scammer needs to steal your identity. Scammers have also used some of the information on vaccine cards, such as vaccine lot information, to create fake vaccine cards.

How can I protect myself from scammers?
Updated 04/28/21

There has been a lot of misinformation spread about COVID-19 and the vaccines, leaving the door open for scammers to take advantage of vulnerable people. Be vigilant when receiving any unexpected phone calls, e-mails or text messages. Do not click on links from unknown senders, answer questions about your personal medical history or provide financial information.

Learn more about how to protect your personal information, as well as how to report a COVID-19 scam, by reviewing the helpful information we’ve compiled here.

Vaccine FAQs Index>>

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