Hopefully, all faculty and staff interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine have followed the instructions to register and obtain access prior to wider distribution to all Pennsylvania residents, which begins April 19.
A number of faculty and staff have asked if they need to continue the weekly testing protocol after being fully vaccinated, which is effective two weeks following the final dose (second dose for Moderna or Pfizer; single dose for Johnson & Johnson).
The CDC’s recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals were updated April 2 and will likely be updated from time to time as more is learned about the vaccines’ effectiveness. While the recommendations do not specifically mention faculty and staff who are part of weekly testing programs, there is an exception for both testing and quarantine following exposure to a confirmed positive case.
Faculty or staff participating in weekly testing can opt out once fully vaccinated. If you wish to opt out, please email your request and a photo/scan of your vaccination card to Karen Yaskanin-Jones in Human Resources. If you wish to continue being tested weekly, you can do so through May.
The College is exploring new testing strategies for students who are fully vaccinated. The CDC still recommends testing residents in congregate settings, including college students, with high risk of exposure to COVID-19.