COVID-19 Information
As a member of the MGH Institute Health Professions community, you Commit to do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 in all aspects of your life – personal, professional, and societal.
Despite changing mask policies in Spring 2022, students, faculty, and staff must continue to complete the COVID PASS prior to arrival on campus or at any MGB site. It provides an easy-to-use dashboard where you can complete your daily attestation, schedule COVID-19 testing, add/remove Epic consent, access the return to work portal, and view vaccine records/ notifications.
View the Pass Tip Sheet in Pulse.

Vaccinations
All IHP faculty, staff, and students must receive [1] a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot by March 1, 2022 if they completed their primary COVID-19 vaccine series (Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson) before August 1, 2021. Those who completed their primary vaccine series on or after August 1, 2021 must receive a booster shot by June 30, 2022.
Students
All Institute students in academic programs scheduled to be on campus are required to submit their proof of COVID-19 vaccination into their Complio account. In addition, students are required to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. For guidance on how to populate your Complio account, visit the IHP’s Immunization and Certification page [2].
Students in need of a COVID-19 vaccine/booster can utilize:
- MGB COVID Pass: After completing a daily asymptomatic attestation survey through COVID Pass [3], students can proceed with scheduling their appointment at an MGB affiliated location.
- Mass.gov: Students can use the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Finder [4] to find a convenient vaccination location.
Noncompliant students will:
- Lose access to D2L (learning management system),
- Not be able to participate in clinical placements, and
- Not be able to attend class on campus.
Faculty/Staff
Vaccines are required of all employees unless you have a religious or medical exemption. In addition, faculty and staff are required to receive their booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have questions about the vaccine or want to discuss your vaccine concerns, MGB has developed guidance to help answer questions [5].
The IHP community can schedule COVID-19 Testing (symptomatic and asymptomatic), as well as COVID-19 vaccination booster doses, through the COVID Pass app [6] and Patient Gateway. Employees who need to submit vaccine documentation to meet compliance OR wish to submit COVID-19 Booster Documentation received at a non-MGB institution can email proof of vaccination to Occupational Health System Services [7].
Whether you were vaccinated at a Mass General Brigham site or elsewhere, you must submit attestation or documentation. All new hires must receive vaccination clearance to work from MGH Occupational Health, which includes validation of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The quickest, easiest way to get a COVID-19 booster shot is in your local community; many sites, including CVS and Walgreens, offer free booster shots. You can search vaccines.gov [8] to find a location near you. You can also text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find a location. Mass General Brigham is also offering booster shots to employees who are eligible per the CDC’s recommendation. Eligible employees may schedule their booster shot appointment at a Mass General Brigham location via COVID Pass [6].
Exemption Request Process
- Medical exemption: those who seek a medical exemption due to medical contraindications (e.g., a previous severe or immediate allergic reaction to a vaccine or the components of a COVID-19) must complete an exemption form [9]and provide documentation from a qualified health care provider that will be subject to review by Occupational Health.
- Religious exemption: those who seek a religious exemption due to sincerely held religious beliefs must complete an exemption form that will be subject to review by Human Resources. Documentation may be required. Email Vanessa Desrochers [10] for guidance on this process.
Requiring vaccination as a condition of employment has been demonstrated to be necessary to achieve the highest levels of workforce vaccination and increase safety for all workforce members, patients, and visitors to health care settings.
Testing and Health
Be honest with yourself. If you have symptoms, get tested. Regardless of your vaccination status, if you have symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and get tested. Using COVID Pass, you can access testing for any reason [11]. Testing is free of charge and there are many locations available to you. If you develop symptoms, infection with COVID-19, or an exposure, follow the Return to Work For Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic Policy [12]on Pulse.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 must refrain from coming to campus and should contact MGH Occupational Health Services (617-726-2217; when prompted, students should press option 3) for assessment, testing (if appropriate), and guidance on return to campus.
Students: What to Do if You've Been Exposed to COVID-19
Faculty/Staff: What to Do if You've Been Exposed to COVID-19
Clients: What to Do if You've Been Exposed to COVID-19
The following information is for clients who test positive or have been informed of a known direct exposure and are receiving services in the Impact Practice Center [24].
Arriving to Campus
Campus entry process for faculty, staff, and students:
- All members of the IHP Community are required to complete daily asymptomatic attestation through COVID Pass [6].
- Ensuring Compliance:
- Faculty and staff logging into their MGB-issued computers will be prompted to complete their COVID Pass [6] if they have not already done so.
- Students will be part of a weekly compliance audit. Students who were scheduled to be on campus for the previous week but did not complete their COVID Pass [6] attestation will receive a notification. Additionally, their academic program will be notified of their noncompliance.
All Visitors to Campus must check in at one of the security desks where they will complete an attestation form.
While on Campus
Effective Monday, March 14, 2022
- Vaccinated students, faculty, and staff do not need to wear a mask on campus (except in limited circumstances) nor maintain social distance when eating or drinking.
- Unvaccinated individuals should be masked while on campus and maintain social distance while eating and drinking. Institute-provided masks are required and will continue to be available at all check-in stations.
- Institute-provided masks will be required by students, faculty, staff, clients, and research participants in the Sanders IMPACT Practice Center and research data capture areas. Facemasks and goggles are optional.
Masks will continue to be required when:
- Riding on Mass General Brigham shuttle buses and public transportation.
- Entering all clinical areas within the MGB system and other health care settings.
- Local communities maintain the masking requirement.
Keep in mind, some members of our community may make the personal choice to continue to wear a mask and maintain social distance. We will respect these personal decisions. Please keep in mind that just because someone is masked does not mean they are not vaccinated.

Classrooms and Meetings
Faculty
Use the white flip book attached to the podium to assist you when starting the system. Give yourself at least 15 minutes before the beginning of class for set up.
>> Follow these steps to return to the classroom [25]
Faculty Compass contains a section specific to teaching [26] developed by our instructional designers and technologists, librarians, and IT staff to support all teaching modalities.
For assistance with student accommodations contact the OSAS Accessibility Office [27] and see these guidelines for accessibility [28].
Help Desk
(617) 724-7910
Immediate/Urgent Help Desk Assistance
(617) 726-3172
If you have any questions or concerns
open a Help Desk ticket [29]
Students
Submit a ticket to the Help Desk if you need personal assistance with D2L or Zoom. Instructional technologists, information technology support staff and librarians can all be contacted via the Helpdesk.
There is student study space available in the Shouse Building, as well as buildings 38, 39, and 2CW.
On campus events and gatherings must be reviewed and approved consistent with the current guidelines and precautions. If students need testing space or space for any academic accommodation, they should work through their program coordinator. Any clubs that would like to book space for in-person meetings should work with OSAS [30] to find an appropriate meeting space.
Travel
The IHP is following MGB policy as it relates to employee travel. You can find the full policy on Pulse [31].
Work-related travel outside of state of employee work or residence (domestic and international) is permitted for employees who are fully vaccinated at the time of travel. It is prohibited for employees who are not fully vaccinated. This prohibition includes in-person attendance at educational and academic conferences.
Personal travel is at the discretion of the employee. Employees should adhere to public health guidance when traveling.
