Effective Dec. 2, 2019, all employees previously grandfathered into measles compliance with a record of only one MMR vaccine will need to have a second vaccine to be considered up to date.
Given the sustained resurgence in measles cases in the U.S., this requirement is necessary to ensure that everyone is protected from measles in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for immunity to measles for health care workers. (The current CDC guideline for evidence of immunity to measles for health care workers is two measles-containing vaccines after the first birthday, a positive blood test for measles immunity, or birth before 1957). As with flu and other mandatory immunizations, this will be required for continued employment.
Occupational Health will be working to ensure everyone is aware and able to receive their needed service.
Those individuals who have not yet gotten their second vaccine have received an email from the Occupational Health Clinic (OHC) encouraging them to do so; this new requirement will formally bring everyone up to date with the current guidelines and VUMC Immunization policy.
“Measles is a highly contagious disease that is, unfortunately, seeing a resurgence in the U.S. It can cause serious complications, and even death in particularly vulnerable populations, so we need to do all we can to protect our employees and patients,” said Lori Rolando, MD, MPH, director of the OHC. “We know that two doses of MMR are approximately 97% effective in preventing measles, and while we are fortunate that there have not yet been any cases reported in Middle Tennessee, this is a prudent, proactive response to ensure we are all maximally protected from getting sick.”
Employees who need additional immunizations or documentation will continue to get email reminders from the OHC, and employees may check their current vaccine status by visiting the Health & Wellness Information Portal at https://hwip.app.vumc.org/hwip/ohc_compliance.jsp. (Please note that for those who will need to update their compliance by Dec. 2, their status might say “up to date” in the portal, but there will be an “MMR vaccine due” in the “next steps” section).
The MMR vaccine is provided to employees by the OHC at no charge. Employees who are unable to take the vaccine are encouraged to come to the Occupational Health Clinic to speak with a provider or submit an exemption request via this link: https://machform.app.vumc.org/view.php?id=455097. Employees with additional records of MMR vaccination or bloodwork that shows measles immunity may submit them via this link: https://redcap.vanderbilt.edu/surveys/?s=FJ733P83PM
The MMR vaccine is available to all employees by:
- Visiting the OHC, 640 Medical Arts Building, 7 a.m.- 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary to receive MMR vaccines, and the vaccines are provided to VUMC employees at no charge.
- Visiting the OHC area at One Hundred Oaks 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on Thursdays.
- Visiting an “OHC Comes to You” event, found here: https://www.vumc.org/health-wellness/upcoming-occupational-health-events.
For questions or more information, please contact the OHC at 615-936-0955 or via email at Occupational.health.clinic@vumc.org.
