COVID-19 Update 9/15/2021

09/15/2021

9/15/2021

Dear ACC Students,

We know the news about COVID-19 vaccines is changing on a regular basis, which can be confusing. To help you navigate this evolving situation, we will continue to communicate with you as news develops.

Recently, President Biden announced his decision to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine more broadly. The Labor Department and other government bodies continue to evaluate the order, and we continue to follow this dynamic situation. As we know more, we will update you.

In the meantime, to ensure your education is not interrupted, here is what we know today about the COVID-19 vaccine and upcoming clinical requirements.

The California State Public Health Officer Order of August 5, 2021, mandates that all healthcare workers be vaccinated prior to September 30.

In compliance with recent State orders, all clinical partners have informed us that they will require any students or faculty onsite as part of the clinical studies or externships to be fully vaccinated on or before September 30, 2021. 

We want to support you in your educational goals and prepare you for your career as a healthcare professional. In order to complete your education at either a clinical or externship site it is a very high likelihood that you will need to be fully vaccinated. As a reminder, there is a waiting period from 3-4 weeks between the first and second shot of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and then 2 weeks after the final dose of a vaccine to be considered fully vaccinated.

To address the requirements of our clinical partners and approving agencies, ACC has adopted the following policies regarding COVID-19 vaccinations.   

By September 30, all students in clinical-based programs (VN, RT, ST, OTA, PTA, RAD, AD N) should submit proof of vaccination to include in your clinical clearance paperwork.   Between September 30-October 31, any unvaccinated student in a clinical-based program who is scheduled for a clinical rotation will be placed in a rotation that does not require a vaccine (if one is available) or some other clinical replacement method, if possible. If, by October 31, a student has not been vaccinated, and we are unable to secure a clinical site that does not require vaccination, that student will be dropped from the program and can reenter to the program with proof of vaccination. 

Students in programs with an extern component: Proof of vaccination should be submitted to your extern coordinator no later than September 30. If we are unable to secure an extern site that does not require vaccination a student will have until October 31 to be vaccinated or will be dropped from the program unless we are able to secure an extern site that does not require vaccination. Once proof of vaccination is provided, the student can reenter the program.

ACC has arranged free COVID testing on campus through established vendors for students going to clinical sites. If a site or externship allows for testing in lieu of vaccination, we can accommodate this through our current process. 

In the event a clinical site or externship is requesting rapid testing, neither ACC nor our vendors have this capability.  Rapid tests will need to be purchased by the students and are readily available at most drug stores.  (We have not heard of this option from our clinical partners but want to make sure you knew where to find a test, should you need one.)   

Thank you all for taking this seriously.  As a reminder, we are guests at our clinical facilities and extern sites, and we must follow their established guidelines as well as any requirements by local, state or federal officials.  

We will continue to update you with any new information as it becomes available. 

Thank you, 
Tim Lee and Susan Pailet

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COVID-19 RESOURCE PAGE

• COVID-19 Update 9/15/2021
• ACC Student Update on COVID-19 State and Local Guidelines: August 2021
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