COVID-19 Vaccine Exemption Process

May 14, 2021 (updated October 20, 2022)

The University System of Maryland and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) are requiring a COVID-19 vaccination for all students, faculty, and staff who are on a Maryland campus.

For UMB, this includes all UMB operated property, including but not limited to UMB’s campus, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Donaldson Brown Riverfront Event Center, Columbus Center, UM BioPark, and other satellite offices. This also includes UMB students, faculty, and staff at the Universities at Shady Grove.

UMB is committed to building an inclusive, equitable and diverse campus community. UMB will provide medical and religious exemptions to this vaccination mandate, as provided for under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Please note that this accommodation only applies to activities occurring at UMB. Students engaged in clinical or field site activities may be required to comply with stricter vaccination or safety rules imposed by those external sites. If this applies to you and additional accommodations are needed, you may need to submit a separate accommodation request to that external site which may not be possible to accommodate. Thus, being unvaccinated could impact the ability of a student to participate in activities at those external sites. Failure to complete the clinical or experiential portion of a student’s education requirements will impact their ability to graduate.

Visit the UMB COVID-19 Management Portal for the exemption forms.

Users have the ability to withdraw themselves from the “Exemption” path at any point and either schedule a vaccination or let UMB know they have been vaccinated elsewhere and start through the documentation workflow.

For Exemption questions, please email vaccineexemptionquestions@umaryland.edu.

For COVID-19 Management Portal questions, please email covidadmin@umaryland.edu.

Medical Exemption

A medical exemption from a COVID-19 vaccination is allowed for certain recognized contraindications. Other medical reasons must include a justification for the exemption by describing the nature, severity, and duration of the individual’s impairment and the extent to which the impairment limits the individual’s ability to receive the vaccine.

If you have an allergy to the COVID-19 vaccine or a specific medical condition that precludes the COVID-19 vaccination requirement and you seek a medical exemption from UMB’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement, please consult with your medical provider.

The form will require a signature from a medical provider.

For allergies, the physician or medical provider must detail whether the allergic reaction is severe, and or immediate, list which ingredient caused the allergic reaction, what was the reaction, and which brand of the COVID-19 vaccine is contraindicated and why, along with how long the medical contraindication last.

Requests for medical exemptions will be acknowledged by Student Health Services or UMB Student Affairs for students and Human Resource Services for faculty and staff.

Any intentional misrepresentation contained in this request may result in disciplinary action, which may include termination/dismissal (faculty/staff) and suspension/expulsion (students).

If you are granted a medical exemption, you may be required to undergo additional COVID-19 testing and other measures in addition to observing all COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore will reconsider a denial only if you bring forth new information supporting your request. For reconsideration of a denial, please contact the Office of Human Resources (for faculty/staff) and the UMB Student Affairs (for students).

Requests for medical exemptions and any documents provided will be kept confidential and shared only with those university employees who have a need to know.

Religious Exemption

If your religious beliefs or practices conflict with the USM and UMB COVID-19 vaccination requirement, you may request a religious exemption by providing the following information.

The form asks to explain in your own words why you are seeking a religious exemption, the religious principles that guide your objection to immunization, whether you are opposed to all immunizations, and if not, the religious basis on which you object to COVID-19 immunizations. 

At your option, or upon UMB's request for additional information, you may obtain a certification/signature from religious/spiritual leadership.

Any intentional misrepresentation contained in this request may result in disciplinary action, which may include termination/dismissal (faculty/staff) and suspension/expulsion (students). Your request for an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement is based upon your religious beliefs.

Requests for religious exemptions and any documents provided will be kept confidential and shared only with those university employees who have a need to know. The request will be acknowledged by UMB Student Affairs for students and Human Resource Services for faculty and staff.

You will be notified of the decision regarding your requested exemption.

If you are granted a religious exemption, you may be required to follow additional health and safety protocols as designated by the university at a future date.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore will reconsider a denial only if you bring forth new information supporting your request. For reconsideration of a denial, please contact the Office of Human Resources (for faculty/staff) and the UMB Student Affairs (for students)