VTA has a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace for its employees. Based on societal transmission and infection rates, it is known that unvaccinated individuals are at a greater risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. This page contains more information about VTA’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy being implemented to help prevent infection and transmission of COVID-19 within the workplace, at VTA facilities, and to members of the public who depend on VTA services.
Download COVID Vaccination Policy #150.017
ll VTA employees and affiliates, as defined by this policy, are hereby required to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment or as a condition to work at VTA. All employees and affiliates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or have received an exemption pursuant to Section 4.4 within this policy, by no later than April 29, 2022. An employee’s failure to comply with any of the requirements of this policy will result in discipline or separation from employment with VTA for failure to meet the minimum qualifications of the job.
Your timely attention to ensure compliance with this policy is essential to VTA’s efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 and to comply with public health recommendations.
Questions? Go to Frequently Asked Questions
Proof of Vaccination
All employees must submit documentation to VTA’s Human Resources Department, in accordance with established procedures, showing they are fully vaccinated as soon as possible following full vaccination. Affiliates must provide acceptable documentation, as set forth in Section 4.2.1, to their employer, and such proof shall be shared with VTA at VTA's request.
Acceptable forms of documentation include any one or more of the following:
- A record of immunization from employee’s health care provider or pharmacy;
- A copy of the employee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (take clear and unobstructed photos or photocopies of the front and back and write your employee ID# on the front of the card);
- A copy of the employee’s medical records documenting vaccination; and/or
- A copy of documentation that contains the type of vaccine administered and the name of the health care professional or clinic that administered the vaccine.
Support for Vaccination
VTA will provide employees with reasonable paid time off for receipt of the vaccine and recovery from side effects of vaccination. Proof of vaccination as outlined above is required before an employee will receive paid time off.
Exemption from Policy
Any employee who believes they are exempt from this policy due to a qualifying medical condition or restriction or based on a sincerely held religious belief may request an exemption from the vaccine requirement through the Human Resources Department. To help facilitate exemption requests, VTA has hired a third-party consultant, Shaw HR Consulting, to provide compliance services and ensure the COVID-19 related accommodation options are explored to best support our employees.
Employees need to visit http://www.shawhrconsulting.com/SantaClaraVTA to complete the online intake form indicating whether the request for a COVID-related accommodation for a vaccine exemption is due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance. The site will automatically send the individual requesting the exemption an email along with the appropriate verification forms to be completed.
A completed form must be submitted no later than February 17, 2022.
Exemption requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis through an interactive process. Once the verification form is received back, you will be notified of the next steps. Please be advised that if you do not submit the completed form by the designated date, your interactive process may conclude.
As a public transit agency providing an essential service, VTA must comply with all federal, state, and local mandates as they relate to COVID-19. Employees are to remain vigilant and continue to follow the rules that are in place to keep you and your coworkers safe, even if you have received the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine booster.
VTA employees are also required to review and be familiar with VTA’s COVID-19 Prevention Program, a comprehensive guide on how to slow the spread of the virus, sent to all employees on October 1, 2021. If you need another copy, have questions about the program, or have questions regarding COVID-19 workplace restrictions, you may contact Environmental Health & Safety Specialists, Karly Hutchinson at karly.hutchinson@vta.org or Lyndsey Fujii at lyndsey.fujii@vta.org.
Thank you for doing your part to keep all VTA employees safe and healthy.