Frequently Asked Questions

Masking

Masking is optional in classrooms, lab- and studio-based classes, university administrative spaces, research labs, public spaces, athletic facilities, and non-classroom communal spaces such as residence halls and libraries.

If you choose to wear a mask, the most effective types of face coverings are:

• N95 masks
• KN95 masks
• KF94 masks
• A combination of a cloth mask with a surgical mask

Vaccination Requirements

As of May 9, 2023, Johns Hopkins University has simplified its COVID-19 vaccination policy. All incoming students and employees must have received at least one dose of any FDA- or WHO-authorized vaccine. This does not impact current affiliates who have been vaccinated or have received an appropriate exemption. Documentation must be provided through our Vaccine Management System. Our policy for granting medical and religious exceptions remains unchanged.

Other requirements

• No smoking or vaping
• Seasonal influenza vaccination is required for all affiliates and must be documented via the Vaccine Management System

Note: The School of Medicine follows Johns Hopkins Medicine’s rules and policies. Masking rule information and general information on JHM’s vaccination policy are available online.

Last updated: May 9, 2023 11:29am

The School of Medicine follows Johns Hopkins Medicine’s rules and policies. Masking rule information and general information on JHM’s vaccination policy are available online.

Last updated: Aug 9, 2021 4:38pm

Students, staff, faculty, and trainees are strongly encouraged to test themselves when they are symptomatic or concerned about exposure to COVID-19. All affiliates are required to stay at home while they are sick or experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, unless otherwise directed by the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Call Center (JHCCC). Affiliates can call the JHCCC at 443-287-8500.

Employees should contact their medical provider for symptomatic testing.

Last updated: May 23, 2023 2:58pm

Students who test positive at home should complete this form and wait for a nurse from the Student Health and Wellness Center to contact you.

Employees who test positive at home should either call the JHCCC at 443-287-8500 or complete this form; a nurse will call you with next steps.

Last updated: Aug 29, 2022 10:41am

The CDC advises: You can end self-isolation after 5 (full) days since symptoms first appeared AND 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving. JHU will release students from isolation after 5 days if they are symptom-free.

We further require that, afterwards, individuals wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until they have reached 10 days from the onset of their illness. 

Last updated: July 22, 2022 9:05am

In most cases, you should wait until you are out of isolation (all COVID symptoms have resolved) to get the vaccine. If you were treated with monoclonal antibodies and/or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting the vaccine. Affiliates may request a medical exception to wait to get the vaccine until the 90 days has elapsed.

Last updated: March 9, 2022 5:07pm

We have a tremendous amount of information and support available for those who have questions about the vaccine or want to learn more. JHM has compiled a set of resources on Covid vaccine effectiveness and safety and what to expect when getting vaccinated. JHU’s Coronavirus Resource Center has extensive information about how the vaccines were developed and tested, as well as data on their distribution in the U.S. and internationally. 

Last updated: June 22, 2021 12:17pm

All students, faculty, and staff who are participating in on-campus activities should monitor themselves daily for any symptoms. Anyone who has symptoms associated with COVID-19 or who has concerns about exposure to COVID-19 is strongly encouraged to call the Johns Hopkins COVID Call Center, or JHCCC, at 833-546-7546 to be triaged to determine if they meet the criteria for testing. In the case of employees, their supervisor will be informed that the employee is “off-duty” until cleared. In the case of students, their school’s Student Affairs representative will be notified that the student is “off-duty.” The student’s name will be shared with the student’s consent.

The JHCCC will inform you of your test result if you are tested at a Johns Hopkins facility. If your test is negative, your supervisor or Student Affairs Representative will receive a message that you have been cleared. If you test positive, you will remain “off-duty” and there will be no additional communication to your supervisor or Student Affairs representative until you are cleared. You are encouraged but not required to share the information with your supervisor or Student Affairs representative.

Last updated: Dec 3, 2020 12:00am

JHU affiliates who test positive through the JHU testing process will be contacted by phone or email by the JHCCC or the Student Health Center. If you are an employee and tested at home, call the JHCCC at 833-546-7546 to be sure the university knows that you are off-duty due to COVID. If you are a student and tested at home, complete the Student Health and Wellness form to be sure the university knows that you have tested positive and will not be required to test for 90 days.

You are required to isolate for five days from the date of your positive test; the date of your positive test is considered Day 1. Your supervisor or school student affairs staff will be contacted to note that you are off-duty/away from class. During this time, you are not permitted to be on campus and should coordinate with your supervisor/instructors to determine if you should take sick leave or can continue some activities remotely. You will be automatically notified when you are cleared, and may return to campus on the sixth day if you are free of symptoms; a negative test is not required to return to campus.

Last updated: April 18, 2022 10:05am

COVID-19 remains a serious illness, and we must continue to be diligent to prevent the spread of the virus. While we have simplified our policy, we strongly encourage COVID-19 vaccination. Those who are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines have lower risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 than those who are unvaccinated or have received only the primary series. Updated COVID-19 boosters can help restore protection that has decreased since previous vaccination.

Last updated: May 9, 2023 10:22am

COVID-19 vaccination is required for all JHU faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate and graduate students who work or study at a U.S.-based university campus or worksite. That includes:

• Members of collective bargaining units.
• Contractors who provide services to the university community and whose primary work location is on university properties located in Maryland or Washington, D.C., regardless of employer, except contractors or vendors whose presence at any JHU property is solely limited to the delivery of goods.
• Those who are doing business on behalf of the university, including individuals engaged in work-related travel.

Medical and religious exceptions will be made where appropriate.

School of Medicine affiliates will be governed by Johns Hopkins Health System vaccination policies.

“Worksite” includes locations that are not within the Homewood, East Baltimore, or Washington, DC campuses, such as but not limited to Keswick, Mt. Washington, etc.

Visitors who fall under the JHU Visitor Policy (i.e., visiting faculty, students, and scholars) are subject to the vaccination mandate.

Last updated: May 9, 2023 10:24am

JHU accepts both FDA-approved vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, J&J/Janssen, Novavax) and vaccines administered outside the U.S.; Johns Hopkins Medicine (including the JHU School of Medicine) only accepts FDA-authorized COVID vaccines. In addition, all JHU affiliates must receive an mRNA COVID booster (either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) as soon as they are eligible (the booster is not required for School of Medicine affiliates). All vaccination documentation must be uploaded to the Vaccine Management System (VMS).

Last updated: May 12, 2023 3:24pm

Yes. Medical and religious exceptions will be made using the standard vaccine exemption process in the Vaccine Management System.

• Also see: Additional details on how to submit and on required documentation

Last updated: Jan 12, 2022 2:53pm

Yes. Faculty and staff can take up to two days off to be vaccinated and/or to recover from any side effects of the vaccine. See JHU HR Information Regarding Novel Coronavirus for details.

Last updated: June 30, 2021 12:41pm

Yes. You are permitted 30 minutes of time off for testing. (This does not need to be accounted for specifically in your E210 time sheet.)

Last updated: Aug 4, 2022 10:56am

If the affiliate was able to be vaccinated abroad with a non-FDA vaccine, those doses will be accepted by JHU. Email a copy of the vaccination documentation to VMS@jhu.edu and it will be uploaded to VMS for you. These affiliates should then get an mRNA booster (either Pfizer or Moderna) to be in compliance with JHU requirements. If the affiliate was not vaccinated abroad, they should start their COVID vaccine in the U.S.

Last updated: March 9, 2022 5:01pm

The mandate includes non-employees who provide services to the university community and whose primary work location is on university properties located in Maryland or Washington, D.C., regardless of employer, with the exception of contractors or vendors whose presence at any JHU property is solely limited to the delivery of goods.

Last updated: June 9, 2021 12:53pm

Managers and business partners have a business need-to-know in many situations, and are allowed to ask about vaccine status. However, it is not the same for colleagues/peers. Asking why an individual did not receive a vaccination may elicit private information about a disability and forcing a co-worker to disclose a disability could be noncompliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In other words, asking about status is only allowed if it is “job-related and consistent with business necessity,” which means that JHU and managers can ask their direct reports, as can HR business partners. However, peers/colleagues do not have a business necessity to know this. Therefore, while you may be allowed to ask your coworker, they have the right to refuse to tell you (and vice versa).

Last updated: Aug 4, 2022 10:57am

Your manager and divisional HR business partner will have access to see your status but will not know why you were granted an exception, if you have one. Managers and HR have permission to access this information for business-related reasons (such as when it is a requirement for working in person), to ensure that everyone is being compliant with the vaccination mandate or the masking and COVID testing requirements associated with an approved exception to the mandate. 

Last updated: July 1, 2021 3:32pm

As of May 9, 2023, Johns Hopkins University has simplified its COVID-19 vaccination policy. All incoming students and employees must have received at least one dose of any FDA- or WHO-authorized vaccine. This does not impact current affiliates who have been vaccinated or have received an appropriate exemption. Documentation must be provided through our Vaccine Management System. Our policy for granting medical and religious exceptions remains unchanged.

Last updated: May 9, 2023 11:31am

For those who may have received a first dose of an FDA-authorized vaccine abroad and only need to receive a second dose of an FDA-authorized vaccine, please be sure to bring any paperwork you have that shows the vaccination information and date of vaccination. After you are vaccinated, you must upload proof of both vaccines in one submission. (The Vaccine Management System allows submission of multiple documents, so please submit any proof of vaccine and English translations for documents in languages other than English.) 

While you are permitted to be vaccinated at any U.S. pharmacy or other vaccination location, it may be easiest to get a second dose through Johns Hopkins University or Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Last updated: March 9, 2022 5:05pm

Yes, individuals who work or study outside of the School of Medicine may receive one booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna).

If you work or study in the School of Medicine, you must follow Johns Hopkins Health System guidance and are required to be revaccinated with an FDA-approved vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J).

Last updated: Jan 12, 2022 3:50pm

All JHU affiliates must log in to the Vaccine Management System (VMS) to upload their flu, COVID, and COVID booster vaccination documentation.

Last updated: Jan 12, 2022 3:53pm

vms.jh.edu

Last updated: July 1, 2021 2:16pm

The university asks that vaccination documentation in other languages be translated (and certified) before they are uploaded to the forthcoming Vaccine Management System. All affiliates will electronically sign their submission to affirm that the information that they provided is accurate.

Last updated: June 22, 2021 12:15pm

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has confirmed that Federal EEO laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19, so long as employers provide reasonable accommodations and other EEO considerations. The EEOC does not consider questions about vaccination status to be medical inquiries. HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, provides protections for patients’ confidential health information, and it covers what your health care provider can share with others—not employers and what they can ask for.

Last updated: June 23, 2021 5:01pm

You can upload a JPEG, HEIC (iPhone), or PNG photo of your vaccination card or a PDF copy of a vaccination record.

Last updated: July 22, 2021 10:45am

If you were vaccinated in Maryland; West Virginia; or Washington, D.C., you can register and obtain your COVID-19 vaccination record from Maryland MyIR, a free website service that allows consumers to view and print copies of their official vaccination records directly from ImmuNet, Maryland’s immunization information system. Just register, download or print a copy of your certification of vaccination, and upload it into VMS.

If you were not vaccinated in Maryland, your doctor’s office or the location where you were vaccinated (e.g., CVS, Walgreens, etc.) should also have a record and you should reach out to them to get a copy. You may also be able to locate this on your patient portal or on the pharmacy website under prescription records or immunization record. You can find your state’s immunization records system at this link provided by the CDC.

Last updated: July 18, 2022 1:45pm