Faculty & Staff Resources

As part of the College’s sequential approach for the health and safety of our campus community, proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all faculty & staff (absent an approved medical or religious exemption).

Muhlenberg’s COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements

1. Why is Muhlenberg requiring COVID-19 vaccination?

   Muhlenberg has taken a sequential approach, consistent with national, state and local health guidelines, for the health and safety of our campus community. Vaccination is the best protection against COVID-19 and a path toward a campus environment where all members of the community can thrive. The vaccines are effective against severe disease and death from COVID-19 and its variants. We know that severe illness and hospitalizations overwhelmingly impact those who are unvaccinated.

   Further, Muhlenberg has a responsibility to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 on campus, in Allentown, and in the surrounding area. The viral load, which is directly related to infectiousness, decreases faster for fully vaccinated people than for unvaccinated people. This means an unvaccinated person may be contagious for longer than someone who is fully vaccinated. Because of the higher risk in unvaccinated persons of both infection and transmission of infection, the College is requiring vaccination. Muhlenberg is not alone in this approach, which is in place at our fellow Centennial Conference schools and a number of nearby LVAIC institutions.
   This requirement and other safety protocols may be updated consistent with health guidelines.

2. How do I submit my vaccine documentation?
   

   Faculty and Staff may email their vaccination card directly to [email protected] or may present it in person to a member of the HR staff during standard business hours. (3rd floor Haas).

3. What should I do if I have lost my immunization card?
   
   Contact the medical office or pharmacy where you received your vaccination and request documentation that you received the vaccine. The documentation must include manufacturer, lot number, date of administration and location.

Questions about Exemptions

1. Will Muhlenberg approve exemptions from the vaccine requirement?
   To achieve maximum health and safety protection for the campus community, Muhlenberg requires all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated, with two limited exceptions:
   1. Medical Exemption: Employees need not be immunized if the employee objects in writing to the immunization on medical grounds that immunization may be detrimental to their health. Medical reasons for an exemption generally include the following situations: (1) the individual has a disease or takes medicine that weakens their immune system; (2) the individual has a severe allergy to a vaccine or an ingredient in the COVID-19 vaccines; and/or (3) the individual had a prior serious adverse event related to a vaccination. An employee who wishes to request a medical exemption should contact [email protected] for further instructions.
   2. Religious Exemption: Employees need not be immunized if the employee attests to sincerely held religious beliefs that are contrary to the practice of immunization. Social, political, or economic philosophies, or personal preferences with respect to immunization do not justify an exemption. An employee who wishes to request an exemption due to a sincerely held religious belief should contact [email protected] for further instructions.
      
      
2. What authority does Muhlenberg have to impose this vaccination requirement?
   The COVID-19 immunization requirement is consistent with the exercise of Muhlenberg's authority as a private institution/employer to protect the health and safety of the campus community. By requiring the COVID-19 vaccine, Muhlenberg is able to move toward offering the traditional campus experience to our community in a healthy and safe environment.

Questions about Vaccine Safety

1. Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?
   No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S.A. contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
   
   Source: CDC: Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
   
   
2. There is a lot of confusing information being spread on social media and elsewhere about COVID and the vaccines. How do I know what is fact and what is fiction?
   

   Check out the CDC’s Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines. Per the CDC, this information is researched, written and approved by subject matter experts, including physicians, researchers, epidemiologists, and analysts. Content is based on peer-reviewed science.

   
   
3. How can I learn more about vaccine safety?
   You have a number of resources available. Here are a few suggestions:
   • Contact your primary care physician
   • Visit Johns Hopkins - COVID-19 Safety
   • Visit Pennsylvania Department of Health - Vaccine Safety
   • Contact the Allentown Health Bureau: 610-437-7760

COVID-19 Vaccination General Information

1. Where can I go to learn about local, state and nationwide vaccination rates?
   Visit the CDC's Vaccination Tracker
   
   
2. If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine?
   Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19, which increases any protection you may have from natural immunity. Learn more about why getting vaccinated is a safer way to build protection than getting infected.
   
   If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
   
   If you or your child has a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults or children (MIS-A or MIS-C), consider delaying vaccination until you or your child have recovered from being sick and for 90 days after the date of diagnosis of MIS-A or MIS-C. Learn more about the clinical considerations of people with a history of multisystem MIS-C or MIS-A.
   
   Source: CDC: Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
   
   
3. Where can I receive the vaccine?
   The vaccine is readily available throughout the nation with many pharmacies, urgent care centers, hospital systems such as LVHN and St. Luke’s and county health departments offering the vaccine. If you are unsure how to locate a vaccine provider in your area, check this CDC website.
   
   
4. Will Muhlenberg offer COVID-19 vaccine clinics?
   The College offered multiple COVID-19 vaccination clinics in 2021 and 2022. COVID-19 vaccinations are now easily available through health networks, local and national pharmacies, medical clinics, and the Allentown and Bethlehem Health Bureaus.
   

You just tested positive / or were just diagnosed with COVID. 

If you tested positive or were just diagnosed with COVID-19, here are the steps that you should take, regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous infection.  

Note: Day 0 is the day you became symptomatic or the date you tested positive if asymptomatic; Day 1 is the next full day after Day 0.

1. Notify close contacts:
   • Using your positive test date if non-symptomatic or the date your symptoms began if symptomatic, look back 48 hours prior to identify any close contacts. A close contact is someone you spent time with for at least 15 cumulative minutes AND during that time you were less than six feet apart.
   • By letting your close contacts know they may have been exposed to COVID-19, you are helping to protect them and others within your community. You can call, text or email your contacts. If you would like to stay anonymous, there is also an online tool that allows you to tell your contacts by sending out emails or text notifications anonymously.
   • An Example Of What To Say To Your Close Contacts:  “Hi. I need to talk to you about something important. Do you have a few minutes to talk privately? I was diagnosed with/tested positive for COVID-19 on [xxx date]. We spent time together on [xxx date], and I wanted to let you know, so that you can follow recommendations to quarantine, get tested or wear a mask to protect your family and others within and outside your household. CDC recommendations vary based on whether you are up to date with COVID vaccinations or ever had COVID-19 before. You should monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19, get tested and isolate away from others if you get symptoms or test positive.
   • For additional information, refer to the CDC “How to Talk to Your Close Contacts”
2. Stay home and isolate, as follows:
   • Days 0-5: The employee must stay home from work and isolate.  Day 0 is the onset of symptoms or test date if no symptoms.
   • On Day 6: The employee may return to work if symptoms are resolving and the employee remains fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine.  If symptoms are not improving and/or fever is still present, the employee should continue to stay home until 24 hours after their fever stops without fever reducing medicine and symptoms have improved.  
3. Upon return to work and through Day 10:Employees must wear a well-fitting mask, such as KN95, at all times (except while actively eating/drinking) for a full ten days after their test date or onset of symptoms. Employees must also utilize to-go dining if eating on campus for a full ten days after their test date or onset of symptoms and should not eat in social settings with other people. 

You are a Close Contact of someone who has COVID-19

If you were exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 or have been told by a healthcare provider or public health authority that you were exposed, here are the steps that you should take, regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous infection.  

Note: Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19; Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.

1. Take Precautions Immediately. Continue precautions for 10 full days beyond Day 0. Precautions include:
   • Wear a high-quality maskor respirator (e.g., N95, KN95) any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public, including travel and public transportation settings. Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.
   • Take extra precautionsif you will be around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
   • Avoid eating and drinking around others, especially when indoors.
   • Monitor yourself daily for symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea.
   • If symptoms develop, get tested and follow-up with your medical provider.  
   • Be aware that you could possibly spread the infection to others, even if you do not feel ill.  
2. Get Tested on Day 6 (test even if you don’t develop symptoms).
   • If you test negative: continue taking precautions (including mask wearing) through day 10. You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.
   • If you test positive: isolate immediately.
3. Learn how COVID-19 spreads and the factors that make risk of spread higher or lower.

Learn more about the College Flextime Policy and Telework Policy under the Work Life Balance section of the Employee Benefits page.

Do I need to wear a mask? When?
Masks will be optional indoors and outdoors, with the exception of Health Services and in specific contexts or where people who are at high risk for complications due to COVID are located. In these situations signage and/or other means will be used to communicate this requirement. Events, meetings and registrar-scheduled classes may be areas where masking is required by event organizers or faculty. Masks must continue to be worn around others for 10 full days when isolating after a positive COVID test and after an exposure to an individual who has tested positive for COVID; please follow CDC guidance in these cases. Wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask, such as KN95 or N95 masks, is effective in reducing the rate of COVID transmission. The College encourages all to follow the CDC prevention steps based on  COVID-19 Community Level.  NOTE: Although individuals do not need to wear masks, the College is supportive of individuals who choose to wear a mask.

I thought that I was wearing my mask to protect others, but now you are telling me that I should wear a mask to protect myself. What is correct?
Wearing a mask protects others (by limiting virus transmission at the source) and yourself (by reducing the amount of virus that you inhale). Wearing a mask, especially a high-quality mask (e.g. a N-95, KN-95) is effective in reducing the rate of COVID transmission, regardless of whether others are wearing masks in the environment.

Over the past two years, the College temporarily modified the sick leave policy to allow for its use if Staff needed time off to care for a family member in COVID isolation or in the event of school/daycare closures due to COVID outbreaks. Previously, sick leave was only available for an employee’s own absence due to injury or illness.

Juggling priorities and workload when you also have a family member who needs you may be challenging. To that end, we have removed the temporary COVID provisions and expanded the policy beyond COVID, effective immediately. In addition to your own absences, you may now also use sick leave to care for an ill or injured family member.

As always, please use Workday to request time off and follow other departmental procedures related to absences and time off requests. For more information, you may review the updated sick leave policy here.