General Lab Information

Vaccination Requirement for Laboratory Guests

Posted February, 4, 2022

NOTE: The following information applies to Laboratory guests who have scheduled facility access with Brookhaven Lab. The Lab remains in Phase 2 of its Resumption of Operations Plan and continues to operate in a limited access mode. 

The goal of Brookhaven Science Associates is to continue to protect the safety and health of everyone on the Brookhaven Lab (BNL) site. We strongly encourage all of our guests to obtain a vaccination in order to best protect themselves, their families, and those with whom they work.

Depending on regional COVID-19 transmission rates, DOE/BNL may have different COVID-19 control protocols in place for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals with access to the site. For example, in certain situations, when transmission rates are low, face coverings may not be required for vaccinated persons, while still being required for unvaccinated individuals. As such, we provide a voluntary validation badge and lanyard for individuals who desire to adhere to relaxed controls for vaccinated individuals (when applicable).

Please follow the instructions below depending on your vaccination status. If you have not already validated your vaccination status with the Occupational Medicine Clinic for a previous visit on or after 11/17/2021, you are required to arrive at BNL Monday through Friday (unless a holiday) between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you MUST arrive outside of these hours, requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and you must contact Kathleen Nasta at nasta@bnl.gov or 631-344-7114 in advance of your arrival. Please ensure you arrive early enough to allow adequate time for this process prior to the start of your research or business for the day.

If you arrive on site without proof of vaccination or proof of testing within 1-3 days prior to arrival, you should expect that you will be asked to leave the site.

If you are fully vaccinated and already have the voluntary BNL-issued vaccination validation badge and blue lanyard:

  • Upon arrival at Brookhaven’s main gate, if you do not have a site access badge (BNL ID card) yet, the officer will direct you first to the welcome trailer.
  • After your access is confirmed at the trailer, if you already have a BNL ID card, you are free to proceed to the building that you will be visiting.
  • If you do not have a BNL ID card, report to the Guest, User, Visitor (GUV) Center in Bldg. 400 to obtain one.

If you are fully vaccinated and do NOT have a voluntary BNL-issued vaccination validation badge and blue lanyard, but would like one:

  • Upon arrival at Brookhaven’s main gate, if you do not have a site access badge (BNL ID card) yet, the officer will direct you first to the welcome trailer.
  • After your access is confirmed at the trailer, or if you have a BNL ID card already, you shall then go to the OMC (Bldg. 490), where you can provide proof of vaccination and receive a validation badge on a blue lanyard.
  • You are encouraged to wear the validation badge and lanyard while you are on site.
  • Once you have the validation badge and lanyard and a BNL ID card, you are free to proceed to the building that you will be visiting.
  • If you do not have a BNL ID card, report to the GUV Center in Bldg. 400 to obtain one.

If you are not fully vaccinated:

  • Upon arrival at Brookhaven’s main gate, if you do not have a BNL ID card yet, the officer will direct you first to the welcome trailer.
  • After your access is confirmed at the trailer, or if you have a BNL ID card already, you will go to the OMC (Bldg. 490, see map link above), where you will provide a negative test result (for the first time you arrive on site).
  • Note that for your first time coming on site, your negative result must be from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within 1-3 days of your arrival. If your test is not within three days of arrival you will be asked to leave the site and obtain a test with a negative result.
  • OMC will record the date of your test expiration which is when your site access will expire.
  • If you plan to continue to be on site past the date your site access will expire, you must visit the OMC on or before your test expiration date to demonstrate you have completed your required weekly PCR testing.

If you do not report to the OMC to update your status every seven days and show that you have been tested, you will be asked to leave the Lab site immediately. It is YOUR responsibility to ensure you are undergoing testing every seven days so that you can maintain your access to the Brookhaven Lab site.

See a list of local area testing locations

Please keep in mind that everyone on the Brookhaven Lab site—regardless of vaccination status—must also wear a face covering. The Laboratory is implementing additional revisions to its face covering policy to align with new DOE guidance issued on Jan. 13, 2022. Effective Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, cloth face coverings, including gaiters, will no longer be acceptable as face coverings for use on the Lab site unless used in conjunction with a surgical mask (i.e., "double-masking," with a surgical mask worn underneath the cloth face covering).

These masks provide a superior level of protection for both the wearer and others around them.

The following is an updated list of acceptable face coverings according to our updated policy, in order from most effective to least effective:

  • KN95 and KF94 masks, which are based on an international standard and can seal tightly to your face when properly fitted.
  • Disposable surgical-type masks, when adjusted to eliminate gaps around the sides of your face and nose.
  • Cloth masks (including gaiters) over a disposable surgical-type mask to enhance their fit and provide multi-layer protection.

It is also highly encouraged to socially distance while in Lab buildings and to socially distance when community transmission levels of the virus are “high” (current status) or “moderate.” See full guidance on face coverings and social distancing

Due to the changing nature of the world-wide pandemic and associated government and health agency rules and guidelines, site access requirements and these procedures are subject to change at any time.

*You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the required dose of vaccinations approved by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).