COVID Vaccinations for Faculty Staff and Students

COVID VACCINATIONS – NEW INFORMATION - January 17, 2022

ALERT: With the recent Supreme Court decision regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate, Mercy College’s parent organization, Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH), has notified the College that it will be complying with the mandate and requiring the COVID vaccination. This requirement will apply to all students that either come to the Toledo Campus or Youngstown location, as well as any students who participate in any clinical activity (online student or face-to-face student).

In order to meet the final dose deadline, individuals who plan to receive the two-dose Moderna/Pfizer vaccine should receive their first dose and have their confirmation submitted no later than March 25. The second dose of these vaccines, along with confirmation documentation, will need to be completed by April 23. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single dose.

*Fully online students that have no clinical/preceptor experience, will be exempt from this requirement.

*This is an evolving situation and subject to change.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine

How do I arrange to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?
Students can schedule their COVID-19 vaccine by visiting https://gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov/ and using the access code: B36ZHKFQJ7 (Ohio residents) or by visiting Find a vaccine near you.

Detailed instructions can also be found in the emails sent out by Marc Adkins, Vice President of Student Affairs, addressing initial vaccination and boosters.

What do I do once I’m vaccinated?
Current students who have a CastleBranch account will soon see a NEW mandatory COVID vaccination requirement to which their vaccination card must be uploaded, even if it was previously submitted. Current nonclinical students who do not have a CastleBranch account will be provided with information to upload their vaccination cards.

What if I have had COVID-19 recently?
You are still required to be vaccinated. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days, you can wait to be vaccinated until outside of the isolation period and recovered (this is usually 10 days from symptom onset, have no fever for at least 24 hours AND improvement in other symptoms). If you have further questions, please contact the COVID-19 Student Health Nurse, Brenda Mullan.

Can I get an exemption?
Current students at the College who have a medical contraindication or a sincerely held religious belief may submit an exemption request. COVID-19 vaccination exemption forms are located at the following: https://mercycollege.edu/my-mercy/background-checks-health-records, under Resources.

What if I choose not to receive a COVID-19 Vaccination?
Current students who choose not to meet the requirement, by either becoming fully vaccinated or being approved for exemption, will be subject to the Student Code of Conduct up to and including dismissal from their academic program or college.

Can I get weekly COVID-19 testing in lieu of the vaccine?
No, testing is not permitted in lieu of the vaccination.

What if I have further questions?
Mercy College administration wants to protect our faculty, staff, and students and vaccination is the most optimal way to show compassion for those with whom we work and learn, and for the patients that are under our care. If you have questions, please fill out the following form and your questions will be triaged as they are received. Thank you.

COVID VACCINATIONS – NEW INFORMATION - December 10, 2021 This content is no longer valid. See updated guidelines above.

ALERT: Mercy College’s parent organization, Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) has notified the College that it is NO LONGER REQUIRING THE COVID VACCINATION! This means that all faculty, staff, and online or face-to-face students in Toledo or Youngstown are no longer required to be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022. BSMH continues to strongly encourage and recommend the vaccination for COVID-19. Also, the information being provided is subject to change at any time!

Mercy College is continuing to monitor clinical student vaccination status to comply with reporting requirements. Additionally, some clinical sites outside of BSMH require students participating in clinical experiences to be fully vaccinated. If you participate at one of these sites, be prepared to either submit an exemption request or to be fully vaccinated. A reasonable attempt will be made to find an alternative clinical experience, however, an institution’s requirements are outside the college’s control.

• If you are vaccinated (partially or fully) you can upload your vaccination information into your CastleBranch account.
• If you wish to request a medical or sincerely held religious belief exemption, forms are located on the website under Resources. Completed requests and accompanying documentation should be sent to COVIDcompliance@mercycollege.edu.

This is an evolving situation, and we will keep you updated as information becomes available.

Please be aware that our clinical compliance team is diligently working to create a process for students to complete the entire tracking process.

The content below is from 11/22/2021. Note: This content is no longer valid. See updated guidelines above.

Mercy College’s parent organization, Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) has notified the College that it is NOW REQUIRING THE COVID VACCINATION! This applies to all faculty, staff, and students. We have been notified by BSMH that it is requiring all students, faculty, and staff to be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022. If you come to either the Toledo Campus or Youngstown location or participate in any clinical activity (online student or face-to-face student), you will be expected to fulfill this requirement.

In order to meet the final dose deadline, faculty staff, and students who plan to receive the two-dose Moderna/Pfizer should receive their first dose no later than DECEMBER 7, 2021 (Moderna) and DECEMBER 14, 2021 (Pfizer). The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single dose.

* Fully online students that have no clinical/preceptor experience, will be exempt from this requirement.

*This is an evolving situation and subject to change.