Updated COVID-19 infection prevention guidance for outdoor and non-clinical areas
Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, May 26, Vanderbilt University Medical Center will no longer require employees or visitors to wear masks outside its facilities regardless of the individual’s vaccine status. This change is part of the Medical Center’s updated COVID-19 infection prevention guidance that will be phased in between tomorrow and June 1.
The updated guidance includes changes to indoor and outdoor masking policies and provides a new ID badge sticker process so that VUMC employees who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 can be easily identified. Beginning June 1, employees who have been vaccinated will no longer be required to mask indoors in non-clinical areas (including non-patient care areas of mixed-use buildings) outlined in the updated guidance. Information about which buildings and areas of buildings on VUMC’s campuses are considered non-clinical is available here.
The updated guidance also includes changes to social/physical distancing requirements, updated guidance on meetings/gatherings, information about changes to the daily temperature screening process at facility entrances, masking requirements in breakrooms, and updated guidance on business travel. Policies for those working from home are not changing at this time.
The guidance for clinical areas and patient encounters has not changed. Masking will continue to be required of all persons, employees and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, upon entry into all clinical areas. Clinical areas include any patient care or public areas where patients are or may be present. Masking will continue to be required when riding a VUMC shuttle, regardless of an individual’s vaccination status. Visitation policies for hospitals and clinics remain unchanged for now.
Beginning June 1, the Occupational Health Clinic will lead an ID badge sticker process that will allow employees to voluntarily self-identify whether they have been fully vaccinated. Employees who are fully vaccinated can be verified through Occupational Health and will be able to forego masking in non-clinical settings. Employees can consider themselves fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving a 2-shot series (Pfizer or Moderna) or 14 days after a single dose of Johnson and Johnson.
Individuals at VUMC eligible to receive a “Vaccinated” ID badge sticker include employees, volunteers, medical and nursing students, Vanderbilt University employees working in Medical Center facilities, and post-doctoral researchers or fellows.
More information about participating in the “Vaccinated” ID badge sticker process will be made available before June 1.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the new masking guidance, “vaccinated” ID badge sticker process, in-person meeting guidance, business travel, and working from home can be found here.