Dear Friends and Supporters,

When we all saw the mandates, we all wondered, "why doesn't do someone do something?!" Then, we realized WE are someone, that we have a voice, and that we still have a choice. 

Please read the update letter/decision we received below from PCHS. As you read this, imagine you are in our shoes reading it. Then, imagine the emotions we felt when we reached the end of the letter. 

Without giving too much away, please finished reading our note at the end...

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Dear SD PCHS Community,

The college will continue to follow all state, federal and local mandates and will voluntarily follow all CDC recommendation for COVID and healthcare workers.  The CDC is the leading infectious disease organization in the world.

As many of you know, there have been changes to the mandates about COVID vaccinations for healthcare.  On August 9th the California Department of Public Health sent a new mandate that the “health care worker” mandate of July 26th requiring vaccine or weekly testing would not apply to acupuncture offices.  This means students will not be required to get a vaccine to work in the clinic or attend classes in the fall.

Even though we will not require it, we will strongly encourage them.  Below is a quote from the CDC.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. 
Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.
CDC recommends you get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html

We understand that everyone’s situation is different, and there is a right to privacy.  Therefore, it is not required, but encouraged.  Regardless of vaccination status, we encourage regular testing at one of the free testing sites in California.  This is consistent with CDC recommendations.

“Testing asymptomatic HCP without known or suspected exposure to SARS-CoV-2 as part of expanded screening”

PCHS will require masks for patients, students, faculty and staff within the school.  This is consistent with CDC recommendations.

“wear masks indoors in public spaces to reduce the spread of this variant.”

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/index.html

PCHS will continue to require daily covid screening for patients, students, faculty and staff before they enter the school.  Please do not come to campus if you have any of the listed symptoms within the last 14 days. The list of symptoms includes sore throat, cough, chills and/or body aches, congestion or runny nose, loss of smell/taste, shortness of breath, headaches, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, and/or loss of appetite. PCHS faculty, clinic staff and administration will find solutions based on your situation.

As healthcare workers, it is incumbent upon us to do what we can to help stop the spread of COVID.  Please help by complying with these rules and help us adapt as these rules change.

Gregory Pace
Campus Director
Direct: (619) 732-3782
Campus: (619)-574-6909
gpace@pacificcollege.edu
7445 Mission Valley Rd, Suite 105, San Diego, CA 92108

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As you can imagine, we all saw the email come through at the same time, scanning the news as quickly as possible: No vaccines, no testing...only screening and masks. Many of us yelped and simultaneously cried at the same time, our voices echoing through the school halls. It wasn't exactly what we asked for, but it was a win nonetheless...for now. 

But, WE are not done. We saw the mandates come down for healthcare facilities/workers, schools, military, etc. We just so happened to be at the top of the list and we were prepared. 

Please, do not wait until it is your turn to take action, instead, take action now and be prepared. You may be at the bottom of the list when your time is called. So, we encourage you, if it's something that you believe in, lend your voice again and again, fight for it, for all of us...now.   

We will leave this petition open until we know that ALL of our fellow campuses have seen our message, and we will not close this petition because we want to let the rest of you know that WE will also lend our voice to YOU because...this is NOT the end.

[Please feel free to post your petitions on our comment section.]

We thank you,

PCHS Students