Expedited OMB Review and Public Comment: Recordkeeping for New Vaccine and Mask Requirements To Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 in Head Start

Issuing agencies

Abstract

An Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFC) was published on November 30, 2021 that established the COVID-19 vaccination requirements whereby all Head Start staff, certain contractors, and volunteers must be vaccinated for COVID-19 by January 31, 2022. The Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting expedited review of an information collection request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and inviting public comments on the following new recordkeeping requirements for Head Start programs: (1) Collect and maintain records on the vaccination status of staff, certain contractors, and volunteers in Head Start and Early Head Start programs, and (2) develop and maintain a written COVID-19 protocol for testing individuals granted vaccine exemptions including granting such exemptions. We also invite comments on the impact of this new requirement on the current requirement for Head Start programs to maintain, including regularly update, program policies and procedures for personnel (associated burden approved under OMB #: 0970-0148).