DT: January 19, 2022
TO: USC Faculty and University Staff
FR: Felicia A. Washington
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Sarah Van Orman, MD, MMM, FACHA, Chief Health Officer, USC Student Health
Division Chief for College Health, Keck School of Medicine of USC
RE: Updated COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Faculty and Staff
In alignment with new LA County Public Health Officer orders, faculty and staff who are working on campus and are eligible for a booster but have not yet received one are required to test weekly.
Additionally, as announced in previous messages, boosters are now required for all eligible students, faculty and staff. A one-month grace period is granted to receive the booster, once you are eligible. The initial data indicate that vaccines continue to offer strong protection, especially when our community is fully vaccinated and boosted. Waning immunity, from the passage of time, can be restored through boosters. Additional information can be found on our vaccines/boosters webpage.
University Deadlines
If you are currently eligible for a booster, you are required to receive one no later than January 30. You may alternatively submit an exemption form. If you have a previously approved exemption, this continues to be accepted for boosters with no additional filing necessary.
Getting a Booster and Uploading Documentation
Vaccinations are also available through USC Pharmacies. Please note: due to unprecedented current demand, there may be delays in recording booster vaccination into the MySHR system. To ensure that your record is up to date, please upload a photo, scan, or screenshot of your booster dose into MySHR. Digital vaccine records in California may be obtained throughhttps://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov.
Visit myturn.ca.gov to find a pharmacy or retailer near you for off-campus vaccination resources. If you have completed your booster outside of USC, please upload this documentation in MySHR (in the “Upload Documents” section).
Thank you for your attention to this health protocol, we are very appreciative of your cooperation and continued efforts to protect our community.