Guide

VACCINATION POLICIES

Communicable Diseases

Employees or students with infectious, long-term, life-threatening, or other serious communicable diseases may continue their work or attendance at Morris Brown College as long as they are physically and mentally able to perform the duties of their job or meet their academic responsibilities without undue risk to their own health or the health of other employees or students.

Communicable diseases for the purposes of this policy include, but are not limited to, hepatitis, tuberculosis, influenza, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), COVID-19, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Morris Brown College will support, where feasible and practical, educational programs to enhance employee and student awareness and understanding of serious diseases.

The mere diagnosis of a serious communicable disease is not, in itself, sufficient basis for imposing limitations, exclusions or dismissal. Harassment of individuals with or suspected of being infected with any disease is not acceptable behavior at Morris Brown College and will be strictly censored. The diagnosis of the condition, as any other medical information, is confidential as are any associated medical records.

Individuals may be required to provide medical records or may be evaluated in person by a Health Center professional. Decisions about risk the individual poses to the health and safety of others at the College will be the responsibility of the Health Center staff and the Nurse’s/Doctor’s decisions will be the final determinate of whether the individual we be permitted to return to employment or school activities. All reasonable consideration will be given in order to determine if reasonable accommodations can be made by Morris Brown College to allow the individual to participate in a normal course of study or work without risk to the individual or others. In working with employees or students diagnosed with HIV, AIDS or any other serious communicable disease, Morris Brown College will proceed on a case-by-case basis.

With the advice of medical professionals, these factors will be considered:

The condition of the person involved and the person’s ability to perform job duties or academic responsibilities;

The probability of infection of co-workers or other members of the Morris Brown College community based on the expected interaction of the person in the Morris Brown College setting;

The possible consequences to co-workers and other members of the Morris Brown College community, if infected;

Possible reasonable accommodations and modifications to the individual’s job or other obligations to take account of the condition;

Risk to the person’s health from remaining on the job or in the Morris Brown College community; and

Other appropriate factors.

Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens

In accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) federal standard for Blood Borne Pathogens, those members of the campus community identified at high risk for the transmission of infectious disease (where applicable) to include but not limited to the College Nurse, and members of the Health Center, the Athletic Department, Public Safety and Physical Plant. These members of the campus community must comply with all segments of this policy. Failure to do so may result in discipline leading up to and including dismissal.

Universal precautions shall be observed to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Under circumstances in which differentiation between body fluid types is difficult or impossible, all body fluids shall be considered potentially infectious materials.

Hand-washing facilities are available to the employees who incur exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. OSHA requires that these facilities be readily accessible after incurring exposure. Immediately after removal of personal protective gloves or as soon as feasible, employees and students shall wash hands and any other potentially contaminated skin area with soap and water. If employees or students incur exposure to their skin or mucous membranes, those areas shall be washed or flushed with water as appropriate as soon as feasible following contact.

Required Immunizations

There is a series of required vaccinations for all students attending Morris Brown College. Students must complete required immunizations before his/her application is fully complete. Failure to comply with these requirements will prevent students from registering for classes.

Please refer to the MBC Immunization Policy

Immunization Requirements and Guidelines

Morris Brown College aligns itself with best practices as demonstrated by other colleges in the State of Georgia regarding immunizations for school entrance. All new and transfer students are required to comply with the college immunization requirements. Morris Brown College will consent to medical and religious exemptions as defined by law. The required immunizations are:

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)-2 doses of vaccine or serologic proof of immunity

Tuberculosis (TB) testing

Hepatitis B Vaccination and titer

COVID-19 Vaccination (2 doses of Pfizer, or Modera, or Single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine- Being fully vaccinated means two or more weeks have passed since receipt of the second dose in a two-dose series, or two or more weeks have passed since receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine).

If living on campus: Meningococcal Vaccine- Georgia state law requires all students residing in College Housing to receive information about meningococcal disease. All students residing in campus housing are required to either provide proof they have received the meningitis vaccine within five years of enrollment or provide a signed waiver acknowledging the risk to themselves and others of not receiving the meningitis immunization. For more information regarding Meningococcal Vaccine, please visit the CDC website.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Morris Brown College complies with all laws that govern employee and students’ medical records, their review, and their dissemination. The College will not require individuals to waive their health privacy rights as a condition for treatment, payment, enrollment in the health plan, and/ or eligibility for benefits. Morris Brown College will not intimidate, threaten, coerce, discriminate against, or take other retaliatory action against an individual for exercising health privacy rights.

For more detailed information, please refer to the website for the United States Department of Health and Human Services as .

Personal Protective Equipment

This policy is designed to cover any Morris Brown College employee, who during the course of their duties must perform tasks in work areas where recognized hazards are present and personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required. PPE may not be necessary in areas where administrative or engineering controls are feasible and can provide protection equal to or greater than that offered by PPE. This procedure should serve as written compliance with OSHA’s “Personal Protective Equipment” regulations. PPE will always be used in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions as an interim measure until other control measures are identified so as to reduce the frequency and severity of injuries or illness.

COVID-19 Protocols

Physical Distancing: Students are expected to observe physical distancing.

Large Gatherings: Students and employees are expected to follow institutional guidelines regarding gathering sizes.

Isolation and Quarantine: Students are required to comply with institutional policies and should quarantine as it becomes necessary.

Contact Tracing: Students are expected to comply with all contact tracing efforts undertaken by the college when needed.

Regular Hand Washing/Sanitizer: Students are expected to wash their hands regularly.