The deadline for caregivers to receive the first dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, a single dose of Johnson and Johnson, or have an approved exemption on file is now December 5. This is to comply with new federal guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. To accommodate the new date, the deadline for medical and religious exemptions has been moved to November 22. You’re encouraged to apply for an exemption as soon as possible.
“We recognize the date change has impacted people seeking a medical exemption because documentation with a provider (MD, DO, APP) is needed and it may be hard to schedule an appointment. We also know some caregivers don’t have a primary care provider,” says Mark Briesacher, MD, chief physician executive. “Because of this, we’ve partnered with Connect Care and Intermountain’s Employee Clinic to help caregivers who need a consultation for a medical exemption to get one sooner.”
From now until November 19, caregivers who need a medical exemption consultation and paperwork can use one of the following options:
- Log in for a Connect Care visit. Connect Care is available to assist with caregiver medical exemption consultation and paper forms 24 hours per day, seven days a week. You can connect with a Connect Care provider through MyHealth+, on the Intermountain website under “Get Care Now,” or by downloading the Connect Care app. Please list “COVID medical exemption” as the reason for the visit. Connect Care providers will not diagnose identified contraindications but will use iCentra records or uploaded documentation during visit intake for the consultation.
- Schedule an appointment at the Intermountain Employee Clinic. Call 801-314-2121 to schedule a video visit or in-person appointment with Sandy Johnson, nurse practitioner. The Employee Clinic is located at the Cottonwood Medical Clinic on the TOSH campus in Murray, and is open Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST.
A medical exemption is defined as identified contraindications and precautions for each vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A caregiver may receive temporary exemption for 90 days from a first positive COVID-19 test after infection or 90 days after the last COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment. While data suggests the risk of having COVID-19 is far greater than that of receiving the vaccine, requests for medical exemptions during pregnancy will be granted for those who remain concerned and have documentation from their medical provider.
To learn more about the exemption process, click here. Additional questions about the COVID-19 vaccine requirement—including important dates, how to provide consent and documentation, and more—can be found on the Employee Health website.