June 2, 2021
Dear NYFA Community,
As you were informed in the recent communication from NYFA President, Michael Young, NYFA will be requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for students and employees learning and working at the New York and Los Angeles campuses for the 2021/2022 academic year.
Please read carefully the following information describing the NYFA COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements. For future reference, you may also find this information on the NYFA Health Requirements webpage.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Students
NYFA will be requiring all students, for the 2021-2022 academic year, to be fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine prior to being granted access to any NYFA facility (including, for NY students, access to EHS residential housing) and participating in in-person instruction and activities. Students are required to submit their COVID-19 Vaccination Cards at least 15 days prior to Day One of Orientation Week ( long-term students) or Orientation Day (short-term students). Students will be considered fully vaccinated if their second or terminal dose of an approved COVID -19 vaccine was administered at least 14 days prior to the first or singular day of Orientation.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Employees
NYFA will be requiring all faculty and staff, for the 2021-2022 academic year, to be fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine to gain access to any NYFA facility.
Reporting Your Vaccination by Submitting Your COVID-19 Vaccination Card
New Long-Term Students, New Short-Term Students, and Students Returning from Withdrawal: Please upload a photo/copy of your COVID-19 Vaccination Card to the Student Application Portal 15 days prior to Day One of Orientation Week (long-term students and students returning from extended leave) or Orientation Day (short-term students), indicating that you are fully vaccinated and that the second or only needed dose of an authorized vaccine was administered at least 14 days prior to Day One of Orientation Week (long-term students) or Orientation Day (short-term students).
Continuing Students and Students Returning From Leave of Absence: Please upload a photo/PDF/copy of your COVID-19 Vaccination Card, as soon as possible and no later than 15 days prior to program start date to the Continuing Student Registration Form (accessible on the Student Hub, as of June 7, 2021) indicating that you are fully vaccinated and that the second or only needed dose of an authorized vaccine was administered at least 14 days prior to program start date. If you have already submitted your Vaccination Card to the COVID-19 Administrator, no further action is required at this time.
Continuing students attending Summer 2021 programs, either hybrid or 100% remote, planning to participate in their programs Fall 2021, and students returning from a Leave of Absence are strongly encouraged to submit proof of COVID-19 immunization no later than July 30, 2021.
NY students presently residing in EHS Residential Housing who want to renew their housing agreements for Fall 2021, are required to submit proof of COVID-19 immunization no later than July 30, 2021.
Employees: Please upload a photo/PDF/copy of your COVID-19 Vaccination Card to the Employee Paycom Portal by the date designated by HR. (Current employees, please upload proof of immunization against COVID-19 on or before July 30, 2021). The COVID-19 Vaccination Card must indicate that you are fully vaccinated and that the second or only needed dose of an authorized vaccine was administered at least 14 days prior to the first day you are scheduled to work for the 2021/2022 academic year. Employees who have already submitted proof of immunization against COVID-19 are also advised to upload photos/PDFs/copies of their COVID-19 Vaccination Cards to the Employee Paycom Portal on or before July 30, 2021.
Securing a Vaccination
Vaccination is free and available in the United States for any person 12 years of age or older. Please, visit www.vaccines.gov to find a vaccination site near you.
Requesting Exemptions from the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
Students and employees may request medical or religious exemptions of the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement.
How to Request a Medical Exemption:
If a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or midwife caring for a pregnant student/employee certifies in writing that the student/employee has a health condition which is a valid contraindication to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, then a permanent or temporary (for resolvable conditions such as pregnancy) exemption may be granted. A letter, signed, dated, and stamped by a licensed health care provider is required to substantiate any request for medical exemption.
Please send medical documentation signed by a licensed medical provider substantiating a need for exemption due to medical necessity to:
Students:
LA: immunizationsla@nyfa.edu
NY: immunizationsny@nyfa.edu
Employees:
LA: Director of Human Resources: pankti.shah@nyfa.edu
NY: Associate Director of Human Resources: domingo.morales@nyfa.edu
Medical documents will be read and filed in accordance with all relevant privacy laws.
How to Request a Religious Exemption:
A student/employee may be granted an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement if the student/employee and/or the student’s parent or legal guardian (for students younger than 18 years of age) holds genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to the practice of immunization. Requests for religious exemptions must be written and signed by the student/employee or, for students under the age of 18, by the student’s parent or legal guardian.
Please send letters explaining your religious beliefs that are contrary to the practice of immunization to:
Students:
LA: immunizationsla@nyfa.edu
NY: immunizationsny@nyfa.edu
Employees:
LA: Director of Human Resources: pankti.shah@nyfa.edu
NY: Associate Director of Human Resources: domingo.morales@nyfa.edu
For additional information about the COVID-19 vaccine and other NYFA health and safety guidelines, please consult NYFA COVID-19 Health and Campus Guidelines and Information and, specifically, the section titled, Getting Vaccinated Against COVID-19.
COVID -19 Vaccination Requirements FAQs
Q: Why is NYFA requiring students and employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Only by mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for students and employees can NYFA safely and comfortably offer in person instruction and the robust campus experience provided during pre-pandemic times. Mandating the COVID -19 vaccine is also recommended by the American College Health Association (ACHA). Lastly, from a public health and community perspective, requiring the COVID-19 vaccine helps alleviate the anxiety and fear faculty, staff and students may have about being infected by SARS-CoV-2 while being on campus and participating in NYFA activities.
Q: How can NYFA mandate a vaccine that is approved for emergency use only?
A: Hundreds of reputable colleges and universities are mandating the COVID-19 vaccinations for students and employees in preparation for Fall 2021. NYFA’s position on the COVID-19 vaccination policy is consistent with the legal authority and the American College Health Association (ACHA) in supporting this policy.
Q: Do I have to pay to be vaccinated?
A: No. COVID-19 vaccinations are free in the US and in countries around the world.
Q: Am I exempt from the vaccine if I have previously had COVID-19 and test positive for antibodies?
A: No. In compliance with CDC guidance, NYFA will require that you get vaccinated, even though you are fully recovered from COVID-19. It remains unclear as to how long those with prior COVID-19 illness remain protected against new infections
IMPORTANT: If you received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma while treated for severe COVID-19, consult with your healthcare provider before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Q: Will students under age 18 be required to be vaccinated?
A: Yes. Since the COVID-19 vaccine is available in the US to any person 12 years of age or older, all short-term and long-term students are eligible for vaccination and will be required to be fully vaccinated before attending in-person classes or activities and, for NY students only, before moving into EHS residential housing.
Q: Which vaccines does NYFA consider “approved”?
A: NYFA is accepting COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved by the F.D A. and the W.H.O..
NYFA may also accept other COVID-19 vaccines that are approved by the drug regulatory agencies of other countries, upon the review and recommendation of NYFA’s public health consultant, Dr. Peter Bloland.
Q: What does it mean to be fully vaccinated?
In accordance with public health guidelines, students and employees will be considered fully vaccinated once they have received all needed doses of vaccines approved by the F.D. A., W. H. O., or other vaccines approved by a country’s drug regulatory agency (upon review and approval of NYFA’s public health consultant) when:
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna: Two weeks or more have passed since receiving the second dose.
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen: Two weeks or more have passed since receiving one dose of a single-dose vaccine.
Vaccines not approved in the US but approved by the W.H.O: Two or more weeks have passed since receiving the terminal dose of an approved vaccine.
Vaccines approved not by F. D. A and not by the W. H. O, but approved by drug regulatory agencies in countries outside the US (upon review and approval of NYFA public health consultant): Two weeks or more have passed since receiving the terminal dose of an approved vaccine.
Q: When must I submit proof of my COVID-19 vaccination?
A: New students and students returning from a program withdrawal are required to submit their photos/PDFs/copies of their COVID-19 vaccination cards documenting full vaccination status 15 days prior to Day One of Orientation Week (long-term students) or Orientation Day (short-term students). COVID-19 vaccination cards must indicate the type of vaccine administered and the dates of each administered dose.
For example, students enrolling in Fall 2021 long-term programs and students enrolling in September short term programs are required to submit proof of immunization absolutely no later than August 8, 2021. However, to avoid delays in verifying your vaccination status, it is strongly recommended that you upload photos/PDFs/copies of your COVID-19 vaccination cards as early as possible and preferably before August 8, 2021.
Continuing long-term students and students resuming their programs fall semester after a Leave of Absence are required to submit their photos/PDFs/copies of their COVID-19 vaccination cards documenting full vaccination status, preferably before July 30, 2021 and absolutely no later than August 15, 2021, or 15 days prior to program start date. COVID-19 vaccination cards must indicate the type of vaccine administered and the dates of each administered dose.
NY Students currently residing in EHS residential housing are required to submit proof of vaccination no later than July 30, 2021, should they want to renew their housing agreements for Fall 2021.
Current employees are required to submit their COVID-19 vaccination cards absolutely no later than August 15, 2021 or 15 days prior to their first day of work for the 2021/2022 academic year. Current employees, however, are encouraged to upload their COVID-19 vaccination cards to PAYCOM on or before July 30, 2021 to avoid delays in verification of immunization status.
Q: How long does the vaccine last?
A: The duration of immunity conferred by the approved COVID-19 vaccines remains unknown. Although some infectious disease experts suggest that immunity may last for years, the large and reviewed studies, at this time, suggest that immunity derived from the authorized vaccines lasts at least 6 months and possibly longer; the need for booster vaccines or annual immunization is currently being investigated.
Q: Where can I get reliable information about the vaccines- the risk of side effects and the effectiveness of each vaccine?
A: Please consult the CDC for updated and detailed information regarding all we presently know about the vaccines and what we hope to learn from ongoing research.
To date, large scale clinical studies have conclusively determined that all of the vaccines approved for use in the United States prevent most people from developing severe illness.
COVID-19 vaccinations are also an important tool in ending the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: How will the vaccination requirement affect the existing NYFA health and safety protocols?
A: With a significant majority of students/employees vaccinated against COVID-19, NYFA hopes to be able to safely relax many of the present safety protocols.
NYFA‘s ventilation and cleaning/disinfecting protocols will remain in accordance with CDC guidelines and state and local public health department directives.
Students/employees will remain responsible for practicing good personal hygiene, staying home when sick, and getting tested for COVID-19 when experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms.
Depending on the incidence of COVID-19 in the respective campus regions, a relaxation, for example, of physical distancing and routine testing and screening protocols is anticipated.
It will be especially important for students/employees who are immunocompromised or granted religious and medical exemptions to observe all CDC health and safety guidelines proven effective for minimizing exposure to the virus and offering protection from contracting COVID-19.
More information on the health and safety protocols that will be required for fall semester will be communicated to the community as fall semester approaches and NYFA receives clear directives from local and state public health departments.
Q:Will there be a virtual option for students who do not wish to be vaccinated?
A:Unfortunately, on NYFA campuses offering full time in-person instruction, the alternative of attending classes remotely will no longer be available.
Q: What are my options as a student if I do not qualify for a religious or medical exemption and I do not want to get vaccinated?
A: Students who qualify for religious or medical exemptions will be advised on how to maintain safety, on campus and off-campus, and when participating in in-person classes and activities. Unfortunately there are no additional options for entry to the New York Film Academy or participation in NYFA classes and activities other than those outlined in our existing policies for each campus.
Q: What are my options as an employee if I do not qualify for a religious or medical exemption and I do not wish to be vaccinated?
A: Employees who qualify for religious or medical exemptions and employees who are immunocompromised are directed to contact HR as soon as possible to discuss possible accommodations. Employees who choose to not get vaccinated against COVID-19 for alternative, personal reasons are directed, as well, to contact HR as soon as possible.
Questions and Support?
For questions and support please reach out to your campus COVID-19 Administrators:
NY: covidteamny@nyfa.edu
LA: covidteamla@nyfa.edu
We are excited to begin the 2021/2022 academic year with the opportunity to learn and work together, in-person, and with hearts and minds relieved of fear.
And we are abundantly grateful to all of you for honoring your pledge to safeguard the health and well-being of the NYFA community!
With appreciation and hope,
The NYFA COVID-19 Response Team