COVID-19 Vaccine

Yes. Rutgers has updated its immunization policy (See Policy 10.3.14 Interim COVID-19 Immunization Record Requirement for Students) to require all students to be fully vaccinated in advance of arriving on campus in the fall.

The vaccination requirement applies to anyone who will be enrolled in classes at Rutgers for the Fall 2021 semester, even if the individual is also an employee of the university. If you are taking classes at Rutgers, other than in a fully online degree-granting program, you will need to provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination.

 

 

Enrolled students must upload their vaccination documentation on the Rutgers Student Immunization portal. A valid NetID and password are required.

Complete vaccination documentation must be provided at least two weeks prior to your arrival on campus, but no later than August 1, 2021. Please consult with your academic adviser or program coordinator to confirm your on-campus start date.

Complete vaccination documentation must be uploaded to the Rutgers Student Immunization portal (NetID and password are required) at least two weeks prior to your arrival on campus, but no later than August 1, 2021. Please consult with your academic adviser or program coordinator to confirm your on-campus start date.

 

Thank you for uploading your vaccination record. You can check the status of your vaccination uploads by logging into the immunization portal and clicking on the Immunization tab. If you have already uploaded your immunization documentation, you will see the date of each immunization requirement, including the COVID-19 vaccine. Please make sure to enter in your COVID-19 vaccination dates AND upload your documentation.

Once all your records are verified by our health professionals, your status will be “Verified.” Until then, your status may be “Non-Compliant” (something is missing, not uploaded, or not yet reviewed) or “Compliant” (all requirements appear to have been met, but still need to be verified by our staff).

Click on “Review your Rutgers Immunization history here” to see the specifics. You’ll see what’s missing and what’s on file. Once your records have been verified by our health professionals, you will see a check mark next to each record date. A sample screenshot of this view is available by visiting this student health webpage.

Our staff is working hard to review an unprecedented number of vaccination records as quickly as possible and we appreciate your patience while we work through the uploads.

Students may request an exemption from the vaccination requirement for medical or religious reasons. Students enrolled in fully online degree-granting programs (typically defined as having no access to on-campus facilities), as well as individuals participating in fully online or off-campus Continuing Education programs, will not need to provide proof of vaccination. Registering for classes that are fully remote (synchronous/asynchronous) is not the same as being enrolled in a fully online degree-granting program.

Enrolled students may request an exemption from the requirement that they submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination for medical or religious reasons.

Exemption requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis; they are NOT automatically granted. The exemption request form is available to enrolled students by accessing the Rutgers Student Immunization Portal. A valid student NetID and password are required to access the immunization portal.

Students requesting an exemption for religious reasons will be required to submit a written statement, signed by the student or signed by a parent or legal guardian if the student is a minor, explaining how immunization conflicts with the student’s religious beliefs. A religious exemption is not the same as a philosophical, moral, or conscientious exemption. Students requesting an exemption for medical reasons will be required to submit a statement from a doctor or advanced practice nurse explaining the medical contraindication and the time period for which the exemption is being requested. Medical exemptions are reviewed annually.

Please note: For those granted exemptions, on-campus participation is not guaranteed, and is dependent on the overall course of the pandemic, the rate and efficacy of vaccination, and the student’s academic program. Those granted exemptions from COVID-19 immunizations will be directed to the appropriate university department to develop an implementation plan which may include applying for feasible and applicable accommodations. Students granted exemptions will not be able to live in on-campus housing.

On-campus participation is not guaranteed and is dependent on the overall course of the pandemic, the rate and efficacy of vaccination, and the student’s academic program. Those granted exemptions from COVID-19 immunizations will be directed to the appropriate university department to develop an implementation plan which may include applying for feasible and applicable accommodations. Students granted exemptions will not be able to live in on-campus housing.

The CDC recommends full vaccination even if you have already had COVID-19 and Rutgers University has added immunization against COVID-19 to the list of required immunizations for students and all Covered Individuals.

 

Yes, you will be able to register for classes prior to vaccination, but you will have to show proof of vaccination (or receive an exemption) before coming to campus to attend classes or live in a residence hall this fall.

A full-remote virtual option will only be available for those enrolled in our degree-granting online programs.

Unless you are enrolled in a fully online degree-granting program at Rutgers, you cannot be assured of a fully remote/virtual option. There will be several remote course offerings, but these will be offered for single courses rather than entire programs. It is important for students to understand that face-to-face, remote, and online course offerings will vary according to their course of study and confirmed through their course planning module.  Some courses may be offered in a hybrid fashion, a mix of online and face-to-face class meetings, but the extent to which course sections offer a remote-only option will not be determined until late Spring 2021. As room occupancy restrictions relax per State guidelines, our instruction delivery models will also change.

Some academic units at Rutgers offer fully online degree-granting programs, and students are encouraged to pursue those opportunities if these align with their interests. We are announcing this requirement early so that students can make their decisions about attendance before enrolling or paying tuition.

As stated in a university update issued May 28, 2021, for international students outside of the United States who cannot receive a U.S. FDA EUA-authorized vaccine (currently Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Janssen-J&J), and who have been vaccinated in their home country, Rutgers will now accept proof of vaccination by a World Health Organization (WHO) authorized vaccine (e.g., AstraZeneca, SinoPharm BIBP). The relevant vaccination records must be uploaded to the Rutgers Immunization Portal at rutgers.medicatconnect.com.

For additional information for international students, read Rutgers Global’s COVID-19-related FAQ.

Rutgers will continue to offer U.S. FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines to international students upon arrival at no cost for those that have not yet been vaccinated with an U.S. FDA-authorized vaccine or a World Health Organization (WHO) authorized vaccine (e.g., AstraZeneca, SinoPharm BIBP). International students (in F-1 and J-1 visa status) may enter the country no more than 30 days prior to the start of the fall term. To ensure that students who need to be vaccinated upon arrival are able to do so and to allow for necessary vaccination wait times and quarantine, the university is in the process of developing interim housing space in August.

Rutgers continues to closely monitor both the science of COVID-19 vaccination (including the effectiveness of WHO-authorized vaccines and the safety/effectiveness of boosting with an FDA-authorized vaccine), as well as COVID-19 rates regionally and globally. This information may inform future changes or updates of the Rutgers vaccination or re-vaccination policies.

For additional information for international students, read Rutgers Global’s COVID-19-related FAQ.

According to the CDC, the vaccines are all safe and effective, and studies have shown they prevent severe illness and death from the virus. See https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html for information.

The FDA has approved the Pfizer vaccine as of August 2021 and continues to authorize two other vaccines for emergency use in the United States; these vaccines also have been recommended for use by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Rutgers announced the addition of COVID-19 vaccination to our required immunizations five months ahead of the start of the Fall 2021 semester so students and their families would have the opportunity to gather information, consult with their doctors, and make informed choices for themselves.

Since announcing a vaccination requirement for students in March 2021, Rutgers has stated that its position on vaccines is consistent with the legal authority supporting this policy, which has been thoroughly reviewed by our Office of General Counsel. In August 2021, the FDA granted full approval to the Pfizer vaccine for administration to individuals 16 and older.

Rutgers encourages all members of its community to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The risk of COVID-19 related illness and death remains high and is increasing for the unvaccinated. The new delta variant is extremely contagious. Yet over 99% of recent COVID-19 related deaths have occurred among those who were not vaccinated. Almost all recent hospitalizations are among those who were not vaccinated. To put it plainly, and as reinforced by the Centers for Disease Control, the benefits of the vaccines, including the J&J vaccine, far outweigh the risks of contracting COVID-19.

Rutgers’ three vaccine centers are open and offer a choice of either the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or one-dose J&J vaccine. 

Rutgers strongly urges all faculty and staff to get vaccinated as soon as they can and is providing a vaccination site at each campus. The university is mandating COVID-19 vaccination for all employees already required to receive an annual flu shot by the revised Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, University Policy 100.3.1.

The guidance regarding student vaccination expands on the usual requirements for multiple immunizations that students have to typically demonstrate, and COVID-19 has now been added to that list. This requirement is informed by public health guidance and rigorous review of the vaccines, as well as our own COVID testing data. For example, Rutgers’ Spring 2021 testing data demonstrates a 60 to 70 percent higher COVID-19 positivity rate among students when compared to faculty and staff. This has been attributed to the highly mobile and highly interactive nature of university students given that they often study and live in congregate settings.

Rutgers is offering vaccinations to students, faculty, staff, and others with a Rutgers NetID on our campuses in Newark, Camden, and Piscataway. Each location has received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines; all three have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Register for an appointment on the Rutgers COVID-19 vaccine portal, and view location information and walk-in hours.

There are many other vaccine locations throughout the State of New Jersey. See the State’s vaccine hub for a list of vaccine locations in New Jersey. Out of state residents should contact their local or state authorities for information.

 

Rutgers is offering COVID-19 vaccination to students, faculty, staff, and others who have a Rutgers NetID. Register for an appointment on the Rutgers COVID-19 vaccine portal, and view location information and walk-in hours.

In addition, interested family and community members who are eligible to receive a vaccine can call 848-445-3033 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to schedule an appointment.

No! The State Department of Health has made clear that no one will have to pay for the vaccine. There is no out-of-pocket cost to get a COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of location. If you have health insurance your insurance company may be billed, but costs will not be passed on to you. See https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/assistance-and-benefits/is-the-covid-19-vaccine-free-what-if-i-dont-have-insurance for more information.

The Pfizer vaccine has been granted full approval by the FDA for administration to persons 16 and older and may be also administered to persons 12 and older through FDA emergency use authorization. Each of the vaccines given emergency use authorization in the U.S. may be administered to those 18 and older.

Individuals who are fully vaccinated, upon uploading their vaccine card to the portal, no longer need to participate in the university’s testing program.

Yes. Until public health experts see evidence that it is safe to not use these protective measures, which guard against transmission of the virus, Rutgers will continue to require social distancing and the use of face coverings.

Yes. In order to comply with President Biden’s Executive Order 14042 requiring many employees of federal contractors and others to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and to protect the health and safety of the university community, Rutgers is requiring all university employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, regardless of your unit at Rutgers or whether you work remotely. All employees must upload proof of full vaccination to the Rutgers Vaccination Portal by December 8, 2021.

Medical and religious exemptions are the only permissible exceptions. Employees seeking a medical or religious exemption should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than November 8, 2021. Any employee seeking a medical or religious exemption for the required Covid-19 vaccination, regardless of covered individual status, may access exemption request information under University Policy 100.3.1.

Rutgers is offering vaccinations by walk-in or appointment to students, faculty, staff, and others with a Rutgers NetID on our campuses in Newark, Camden, and Piscataway. View location information and walk-in hours by campus. To find other vaccination sites, visit the New Jersey vaccine appointment finder.

Register for an appointment or upload your vaccination record on the Rutgers COVID-19 vaccine portal.

Failure to provide proof of full vaccination or receive a University-approved exemption by December 8, 2021, will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Yes. All Rutgers employees, including PTLs, Type 4 employees, and other part-time workers, are subject to the vaccination mandate.

On September 9, 2021, President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14042 requiring vaccination against COVID-19 for many employees of federal contractors and others.  Subsequently, the Federal Worker Safety Task Force issued guidance clarifying the vaccination mandate, and it is now clear that Rutgers University must comply with the Executive Order because the university is both a federal contractor and, in many instances, a federal subcontractor. We hold hundreds of direct federal contracts and are involved through many relationships in countless subcontracts, which we anticipate will include vaccination requirements pursuant to the Executive Order.  Additionally, vaccination will help protect the health and safety of all members of the university community and the people with whom they interact. Therefore, to ensure compliance with the Executive Order and Task Force guidance and to protect the health and safety of the university community, all Rutgers employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 8, 2021.  Medical and religious exemptions are the only permissible exceptions.

Exemptions for medical and religious reasons are the only permissible exceptions. Any employee seeking a medical or religious exemption for the required Covid-19 vaccination, regardless of covered individual status, may access exemption request information under University Policy 100.3.1.

Exemption requests should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than November 8, 2021.

 

No, Covered Individuals, including health care and public safety personnel (see Policy 100.3.1), who received a medical or religious exemption from COVID-19 vaccination from Rutgers, do not need to apply again.

Yes. All employees with an approved exemption will be required to be tested for COVID-19 at least once a week.  If you are an employee who is a “Covered Individual” under University Policy 100.3.1 and received an exemption from the vaccination mandate, you will be required to be tested at least twice a week. Please consult the university’s COVID-19 Testing page for more information on testing.

 

Yes. Employees are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving the final dose of a vaccine approved or authorized for emergency use in the United States or a vaccine that has been listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO).  Those vaccines include those from Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca, among others.

Rutgers is offering vaccinations on our campuses in Newark, Camden, and Piscataway. Each location has received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines; all three have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Register for an appointment on the Rutgers COVID-19 vaccine portal, and view location information and walk-in hours.

 

Are the families of Rutgers community members able to get vaccinated at Rutgers?

Yes. Interested family members and the general public who are eligible to receive a vaccine can call 848-445-3033 between 9 a.m. and 5.p.m., Monday through Friday, to schedule an appointment.

Not at this time. The federal Executive Order 14042 does not require employees to receive a COVID-19 booster shot.

A vaccine is a product that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease. Vaccines work by training and preparing the body’s natural defenses—the immune system—to recognize and fight off the viruses and bacteria they target. If the body is exposed to those disease-causing germs later, the body is immediately ready to destroy them, preventing illness. Vaccines are also critical to the prevention and control of infectious-disease outbreaks to decrease mortality. Vaccines currently prevent millions of deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, and influenza.

Prevention of infection is key. Public health officials and medical experts believe vaccination is an important step in helping to prevent or lessen the effects of this illness and its potentially devastating consequences. COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) can be a mild illness in some or lead to severe disease or even death in previously healthy people. Additionally, long-term complications of COVID-19 remain unknown. Many treatments and medications are being studied, but there is currently no cure.

Every vaccine must be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it is made available to the American public. Vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA and are being deployed throughout the country.  The Pfizer vaccine has been granted full approval by the FDA for administration to persons 16 and older.

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can issue an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) during a public health emergency to allow the use of unapproved medical products, or unapproved uses of approved medical products to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases. For the FDA to issue an EUA, safety and efficacy must be demonstrated, and certain criteria must be met, including that there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for making sure that, just like any medications, any FDA-authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines each require two doses, spaced out by 21 and 28 days, respectively. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) applies the same stringent review process to all vaccines regardless of manufacturer. FDA approval or authorization of a vaccine means that the agency has determined, based on substantial evidence and a stringent review process, the vaccine is safe and effective for its intended use.

If you are eligible, yes. Additional dose: The CDC recommends that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose. Booster shot: Currently, the CDC only recommends that some people (those 65 or older, and those 18 and older who have underlying medical conditions or who work or live in high-risk settings) who received an initial series of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months ago should or may receive a booster shot of Pfizer’s vaccine. To schedule your vaccination appointment at a Rutgers Vaccination Clinic please visit our Vaccine Appointments and Information section at the top of this webpage.

 

Currently, the CDC only recommends that some people (those 65 or older, and those 18 and older who have underlying medical conditions or who work or live in high-risk settings) who received an initial series of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months ago should or may receive a booster shot of Pfizer’s vaccine. Please keep an eye on CDC guidance for other populations to learn when you may be eligible.

 

 

According to the CDC you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same visit.

 

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend discussing with your physician whether you should get the vaccine.

If you are not feeling well, it is recommended that you wait until you are feeling better to get the vaccine. If you have scheduled an appointment to receive the vaccine and are not feeling well on the day of vaccination, it is best to reschedule your vaccine appointment. If you have symptoms and/or signs of respiratory infection, evaluation and testing as is appropriate from health care resources in your community is recommended.

The most common side effects are headache, cough, and muscle pain. These are more common after the second dose and are usually of short duration, lasting for less than 24 hours. There is also a potential for injection site reactions (redness, swelling, and pain, which are common and more severe after the second dose), as well as fatigue, chills, fever, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea. These are common adverse reactions seen with other vaccines. There may be other reactions that are not currently known. If you experience common side effects from the vaccine it is still necessary to receive the second dose for the vaccine to be effective. If you have experienced a very severe allergic reaction in the past requiring emergency care, you should consult your primary care provider before receiving the vaccine.

If you experience an adverse reaction to the vaccine you should call your primary care physician. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration encourage the public to report possible side effects to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The CDC is also implementing a new smartphone-based tool called v-safe to check in on people’s health after they receive a COVID-19 vaccine. When an individual receives the vaccine, a v-safe information sheet should be provided explaining how to enroll. Those who enroll in v-safe will receive text messages instructing how problems or adverse reactions after receipt of the vaccine can be reported. The most common side effects are headache, cough, and muscle pain. These are more common after the second dose and are usually of short duration, lasting less than 24 hours.

Yes, your choice to get the vaccine is a personal one and does not impact how you are expected to behave with regard to our COVID-19 policies.

You should contact your primary care physician or other provider to discuss your concerns.