Vaccination guidance for staff

Covid-19 vaccination programme

Employees who have received the vaccine must continue to follow rules around social distancing, handwashing and the use of personal protective equipment (such as masks) as part of the Covid-19 security measures. You could potentially still contract Covid-19 following a vaccination and then transmit the virus to people who have not been vaccinated.

See Covid-19 University health and safety guidance before coming on to campus.

The University strongly endorses employees to take part in the vaccination programme against Covid-19, in line with government guidance. Read the benefits of receiving the Covid-19 vaccine published by the government.

We acknowledge that while the vaccine is extremely effective, it will not be 100% effective and therefore the University will still need to be risk-assessing the situation as it changes. Controls will still be required for employee safety.

The University is encouraging essential employees who need to work on campus to be tested up to twice a week until the end of June.

We recommend that even if you have been vaccinated, it is still worthwhile getting tested until official guidance changes.

Please read:

Individual circumstances

We understand that it is ultimately each individual's personal choice, but we request all of our employees to make a fully-informed decision on whether to accept the Covid-19 vaccination by reading literature published by official sources.

Clinically vulnerable employees who have been advised not to receive the vaccine for medical reasons will be risk assessed by the Health and Safety department and supported on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Occupational Health, the line manager and School or department HR Business Partner. It maybe that these employees continue to work remotely in the mid-term but the University is unlikely to permit permanent remote working.

Employee vaccination status data is classed as private health data and at this time the University has decided not to store this data.

If or when the government guidance changes with regard to vaccination data, the University will consider whether there is a legitimate requirement to store this information.

Vaccine appointment arrangements

You will be offered paid time off to attend vaccination appointments and we expect employees to notify their line manager of the appointment in the same way they would make arrangements to take time off for any medical appointment.

Sickness absence

If an employee becomes unwell following the coronavirus vaccination, sickness absence should be taken in the usual way in line with the University Sickness Procedure.

The University will continue to support sick pay for any employee who is absent due to contracting Covid-19 or who is unwell following receiving the vaccination.

Treating colleagues with respect

The University recognises that Covid-19 vaccination programme could be divisive and may lead to the expression of strong opinions with differing views. The University will expect employees to display behaviours in line with the Dignity and Respect Policy at all times.

More vaccination information

Check these useful links for vaccination guidance: