Pittsburgh Technical College Covid-19 Vaccine Medical and Religious Exemption Policy
The COVID-19 immunization requirement is in place to protect the health and safety of our community. Therefore, very few exemptions will be allowed. Pittsburgh Technical College (hereinafter “PTC”) will consider both medical and religious or sincerely held belief exemptions. A medical exemption may be granted for a documented medical contraindication. Religious and/or sincerely held belief exemptions may only be granted on the basis of a sincere and genuine religious or other sincerely held belief prohibiting immunization.
Exemptions must be applied for on the appropriate College form and approved by the Pittsburgh Technical College Committee to review exemption requests.
Requests for medical exemptions will be determined on a case-by-case basis [e.g., severe, or immediate allergic reaction after a previous dose or known (diagnosed) allergy to component of the vaccine]. Such requests will require the completion of the College form and the submission of appropriate supporting medical documentation.
Requests for religious or sincerely held belief exemptions will also be determined on a case-by-case basis. Determinations on these exemptions will be made after an individualized assessment of each situation. Such requests may require the person making the request to answer certain questions, such as if their opposition is related to a religious institution. If it does, PTC may ask for a letter from that institution. If it does not, PTC may ask the person to describe their religious or moral belief, observance, or practice, how long they’ve held the same, and ask them for their reasoning.
PTC will weigh all medical and religious exemption requests against the health and safety of our community. Only authorized PTC personnel will know that someone has been granted an exemption unless the person making the request volunteers that information to others.
Exemption requests may take up to 2 weeks to process. After your request has been reviewed and processed, you will be notified, in writing, if an exemption has been granted or denied. All decisions are final and not subject to appeal. Individuals are permitted to reapply if new documentation and information should become available.
Should someone be granted an exemption, that person will be required to adhere to the scheduled mandatory COVID-19 screening program and follow additional guidance for protection that will be provided at the time that the exemption is granted.
Students enrolled in the Nursing Program should reach out to the Academic Chair of the School of Nursing to see if an exemption will impact their progression in the program.
Request Form
PTC students living in college-sponsored housing who wish to seek medical and religious exemptions from the vaccine mandate must complete PTC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Request and return it to the email or mailing address listed below. PTC may take up to two-weeks to review your request once it is received.
Please email completed form to Dr. Kimberly Jutca Taylor at jutcataylor.kimberly@ptcollege.edu
or mail to
Pittsburgh Technical College
Attn: Dr. Kimberly Jutca Taylor
1111 Mckee Road
Oakdale, PA 15071