Chancellor Judy Miner sent the following message via email to Foothill-De Anza district employees.
Aug. 18, 2021
Dear Colleagues,
I’m writing to report on recent developments related to mandatory vaccination and verification for students and employees.
Let me begin by thanking the Consultation Task Force for its advice regarding implementation of the proposed interim mandatory vaccination policy. This requires all employees and students who come to campus to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 15 for employees and Sept. 20 for students, since we expect the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to fully approve a vaccine within the next few weeks. Recent surges in the delta variant and the appearance of the lambda in California compel us to take as many measures as possible to mitigate health risks to our students and employees. We will also provide you with information regarding surveillance testing as soon as we finalize the details.
For the past year, De Anza Health Services has successfully used a secure online health portal, PyraMED Health Services, for students to request appointments, view clinic records and, for international students, to upload vaccination records, among other services. PyraMED provides health, counseling, wellness, and accommodation software to colleges and universities across the country. De Anza reports that it is convenient to use, meets all medical privacy requirements, and integrates well with Banner.
Rather than having ETS develop a system de novo, we now plan to expand De Anza’s PyraMED license and use this system for all employees and students throughout the district who come to campus. Individuals will upload their proof of COVID-19 vaccination and PyraMED can interface with the California Immunization Registry (CAIR) for verification of vaccination records. We have high confidence in this system as it has already detected fraudulent vaccination records. We will update you about the process for using PyraMED as we work out the details.
We also have decided that effective immediately, all of our student athletes will need to show proof of vaccination to practice for and compete in intercollegiate games. We are taking this step in good conscience and out of an abundance of caution to protect our students. We are encouraging everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks outdoors when social distancing isn't possible, for the safety of themselves and others. But athletes cannot wear masks during practice and games, where they may be playing against others who are not vaccinated.
Please join me in thanking De Anza President Lloyd Holmes and Rosafel Nogra, De Anza Health Services clinic director, for helping us find a good solution with PyraMED. For those still in need of a COVID-19 vaccination, De Anza is hosting a clinic on campus on Aug. 31 from noon-7 p.m. Watch the college web site for details. Rosafel will attend my office hour on Sept. 8 from 11 a.m.-noon to answer questions about PyraMED.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all of you for being steadfast in service to our district amidst the torturous impact of the pandemic on our personal and professional lives. Thank you for your individual efforts to protect yourselves, your loved ones, and the lives of those whose names you will never know.
In gratitude for the privilege of working with you,
Judy