COVID-19 Vaccination Policy and Information

COCC's COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Last updated: January 20, 2023 

COCC requires COVID-19 vaccination for Wickiup Hall residential students during the 2022/2023 academic year:

COCC defines "fully vaccinated" as a complete primary series of Moderna, Pfizer, or J&J COVID-19 vaccine doses. Residents can request an exception per Oregon State law, citing medical or non-medical reasons including those of a religious, philosophical, or personal nature. Residents should send all vaccination-related questions to housing@cocc.edu. 

COCC also requires COVID-19 vaccination for the 2022/2023 academic year in the following areas:

Students in Nursing, Nursing Assistant, EMS, Dental Assisting, and Addiction Studies programs: Vaccination or an approved OHA COVID-19 exception form are necessary to complete the required clinical hours for these programs. Students will be asked to upload vaccination cards or medical/religious exceptions to an online system (VCI) for approval before being allowed to attend clinical sites. Students in these programs should send all vaccination-related questions to their program director. Faculty in these programs should send all vaccination-related questions to their deans. Certain clinical/practicum locations may not allow students to participate in practicum/direct patient care without COVID-19 vaccination/boosters. If such practicum/direct patient care is required in a program, students will likely not be able to successfully complete the program if they are not vaccinated against COVID-19.

In addition, for students in Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Veterinary Technician, Massage Therapy, Fire Science, and Education programs, proof of vaccination or an approved OHA COVID-19 exception form may be required by some clinical sites. Check with your program director for information about possible limitations if you are not vaccinated.

Approved Student Vaccination Exceptions: Students with approved COVID-19 OHA exception forms will be required to follow the policies of their clinical or practicum site. This may require masking during direct patient care or weekly testing. For students who participate in the COCC on-campus dental clinic, those with approved OHA COVID-19 exceptions will be required to wear a KN95 or N95 mask in the on-campus clinic (basic surgical masks will not be accepted).

Additional information:

COCC encourages students, employees, and community members to familiarize themselves with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions of "fully vaccinated" and "eligible for a booster."

COCC's vaccination policies are subject to change according to evolving CDC, OHA, OSHA, HECC, county health, and governor's office guidance. The policy will also be revisited ahead of each term and whenever relevant guidance changes.