Good morning IHS Western Region Commissioned Officers,
Commissioned Corps Headquarters recently released the announcement of the mandatory completion of the COVID-19 vaccination series by 30 September 2021 as an additional medical requirement for all Public Health Service Officers.
We’ve received some additional information and guidance from CCHQ on COVID-19 vaccination requirements for PHS officers based upon questions received:
Officers seeking to be vaccinated:
- There is no mandate on which specific vaccine officers receive; officers can receive either the two-shot or one-shot series.
- Any medical waiver requests regarding the vaccine should be submitted like other medical waiver requests. More CCHQ information available at: https://dcp.psc.gov/ccmis/Medical%20Affairs/MA_medical_waiver_program.aspx
- Documentation should specifically state why any of the COVID vaccines are contraindicated or should be postponed for the individual. Wherever possible, medical documentation should be supported by authoritative medical literature.
- Requests for religious exceptions to the COVID vaccine requirement should be directed to Corps Care, PHSCorpsCare@hhs.gov ; please do not send these requests to MAB. (For awareness: there is a reference to immunizations within Section 6-3.c of CCD 121.03 Accommodation of Religious Practices)
- Some officers who previously submitted their COVID vaccine records are re-uploading their information, which is significantly slowing down MAB vaccine uploads.
Officers can view their Immunization Summary Report by going into their Readiness Self-Service page within the Officer Secure Area of CCMIS (screenshot below of that section).
**If all doses of their COVID vaccine are on the report, officers do not need to re-upload their documentation. **
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me,
Respectfully,
CAPT Martha Wanca
Western Region Commissioned Corps Liaison
Indian Health Service
Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel Support (DCPS)
4141 Ambassador Drive
Suite 300 Room 348
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone – 907-729-1308