COVID-19 Vaccination Policies

Purpose

COVID-19 continues to pose a significant threat to the USA Cycling Team’s ability to train and compete, thereby risking qualification for and performance at top-level international cycling competitions. Unvaccinated USA Cycling Team members present a substantially greater transmission risk to themselves and the USA Cycling Team.

The purpose of this policy is to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 in USA Cycling’s training and competition environments to help ensure the ability of USA Cycling’s athletes to train and compete and to protect the health and safety of our athletes, employees, coaches, mechanics, soigneurs, and other volunteers and contractors, as well as members of the community that vaccinations may reduce. This policy is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you want more information on COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC maintains a website on vaccines and immunizations and has product information for the COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. (please see www.cdc.gov).

Scope

This policy applies to all Team members, including athletes, coaches, mechanics, soigneurs, medical staff, and others providing services to the Team, whether as contractors or volunteers.

For clarity, Team athletes are those athletes selected or invited by USA Cycling to participate in USA Cycling programs, camps, clinics, training sessions, and competitions. USA Cycling employees are covered by the separate USA Cycling Staff COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

Vaccination Policy

As of March 31, 2022, all Team members must:

1. be fully vaccinated under current Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) guidelines and definitions and submit documentation of such vaccination to USA Cycling before traveling or participating in any Team activity, or
2. secure an approved exemption (see Exemptions below).

Previous history of COVID-19 from which the Team member recovered more than 90 days earlier or a previous positive antibody test for COVID-19 does not waive the vaccination requirement.

Fully Vaccinated Status

You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing a primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine, namely:

• Two weeks after your second dose in a two-dose vaccine series such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, taken with at least the minimum recommended intervals between doses. This includes “mix and match” doses of two different two-dose approved vaccines.
• Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J) vaccine.
• Two weeks after completing the entire recommended series of a vaccine listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO), such as the Astra-Zeneca vaccine (a two-dose vaccine).

In addition to completing a primary series, if eligible and recommended to receive one, you must receive a booster shot or an additional vaccine dose to be considered up to date on your vaccine.

Proof of Vaccination Status

All Team members must provide written proof of vaccination status as soon as possible upon selection to the Team.

USA Cycling accepts the following types of documents:

1. a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control & Prevention or World Health Organization Yellow Card) that includes the name of the person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided, and date the last dose administered),
2. a photo of a Vaccination Record Card as a separate document, or
3. a photo of a Vaccination Record Card stored on a phone or electronic device.

USA Cycling will not make any travel arrangements for any Team member who has not provided proof of vaccination status.

The creation, purchase, or sale of vaccine cards is illegal and endangers public safety. The unauthorized use of an official government agency’s seal on such cards is a crime. Criminal penalties may include significant fines and prison time and are grounds for disciplinary action. USA Cycling penalties may consist of further sanctions, including termination of membership, termination of contracts, removal from any Team activities, or removal from the Team.

Exemptions

Exemptions are available only for Protected Competitions as that term is defined in the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Bylaws.

A Team member with a qualifying medical condition that contraindicates a COVID-19 vaccination may request an exemption from this vaccination policy. Direct all exemption requests to the Chief of Sport Performance.

If the rules of a Protected Competition require vaccination, USA Cycling will not grant an exemption under this policy. If the rules of a Protected Competition allow for exemptions to a mandatory vaccination policy, the Team member must obtain such exemption from the organizer of the Protected Competition. If the Team member has not obtained an exemption from the organizer of the Protected Competition, USA Cycling will not grant an exemption under this policy.

If any national or local jurisdiction within which the Protected Competition occurs requires vaccination for travel to or from the Protected Competition, USA Cycling will not grant an exemption under this policy. If any national or local jurisdiction within which the Protected Competition takes place allows for exemptions for travel to or from the Protected Competition, the Team member is responsible for obtaining such exemption. If the Team member has not obtained an exemption from the relevant national and local jurisdictions where the Protected Competition occurs, USA Cycling will not grant an exemption under this policy.

Provided the Team member has met the above conditions, USA Cycling will engage in an interactive process to determine if an exemption as a reasonable accommodation may be appropriate. USA Cycling may provide an exemption as a reasonable accommodation if it does not cause undue hardship for the organization or directly threaten others’ health and safety. USA Cycling will make this determination on a case-by-case basis. Any medical information concerning a Team member’s limitations and reasonable accommodation needs will be kept strictly confidential.

COVID-19 Protocols

Any Team member who obtains an exemption is subject to following all COVID-19 protocols and guidelines from USA Cycling, the UCI, and any national, regional, and local health authorities as well as the organizer of the Protected Competition, including but not limited to mask-wearing, testing, and social distancing. If USA Cycling has granted an exemption to a Team member, in addition to mask-wearing and social distancing requirements, the Team member will be solely responsible for all of the following additional expenses:

1. At least daily COVID-19 testing to meet USA Cycling protocols, as well as testing to meet any protocols relevant to the Protected Competition;
2. Additional travel expenses including but not limited to separate hotel or living arrangements, separate transfer or shuttles, and separate meal arrangements, to ensure the health and safety of other Team members;
3. Isolation for entry into the country, after exposure to COVID-19, or if infected, that is required before the Protected Competition or past the departure date of the Team; and
4. Any additional COVID-19 related medical expenses abroad.

Modifications

This policy is subject to change without prior notice, at the sole discretion of USA Cycling; however, USA Cycling will make best efforts to communicate any changes to all Team members in advance.