COVID-19 vaccine FAQ

Is the university requiring the COVID-19 vaccine?
All students, faculty, staff and trainees are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and are strongly encouraged to receive a COVID-19 booster shot if they are eligible to receive one. Boosters reduce the risk of severe COVID illness, likely reduce the risk of acquiring COVID infection, and prevent the need to quarantine after exposure to COVID. 

Where can I get the vaccine?
Vaccines are available to students on campus free of charge. For Danforth Campus students, Habif Health and Wellness Center has the Pfizer vaccine and appointments are available through the student portal on the Habif website.

For employees, the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Center for Advanced Medicine (CAM) is accepting walk-ins from 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. in addition to scheduled appointments available from 8 a.m.–3:15 p.m. Located on the third floor of the CAM, the vaccine clinic is open Monday–Friday to employees and the general public ages 18 and up.

To find other locations, or a Moderna vaccine site, visit vaccinatestl.org, or vaccines.gov. You can also text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations.

Pfizer boosters are available from BJC HealthCare at multiple public locations. Please schedule an appointment online.

Do I need to get a COVID-19 booster?
All students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to receive a COVID-19 booster shot if they are eligible to receive one. Boosters reduce the risk of severe COVID illness, likely reduce the risk of acquiring COVID infection, and prevent the need to quarantine after exposure to COVID. After receiving a booster, students and employees should update their vaccination records on the Habif Health and Wellness Center website or the ReadySet portal, respectively. 

Individuals who have already been approved for a COVID-19 vaccine exemption are not expected to receive a booster or request an additional exemption. Students who are participating in study abroad programs are required to receive boosters.

The CDC has recommended COVID-19 booster shots for everyone ages 16 and older. Booster appointments are readily available at most public clinics or retail pharmacies. To find a booster vaccine near you, visit https://www.vaccines.gov/search/ and type in your zip code.

Why isn’t the university requiring boosters?
We have set the expectation that all of our students, faculty and staff who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster will get one. We are relying on the members of our community to take personal responsibility for taking this step and do not feel that we need to have a mandate at this time. We are asking everyone to upload their booster documentation (students to the Habif Health and Wellness Center website and employees to ReadySet) and we will monitor progress and determine whether a requirement may be necessary in the future.

Can I get a COVID-19 booster through the university?
We strongly encourage you to get a booster through your personal physician or a local urgent care or pharmacy before returning to campus. To find a vaccine near you, visit https://www.vaccines.gov/search/ and type in your zip code.

I have a medical condition or my religious beliefs prevent me from receiving the vaccine. What should I do?
Exemptions to mandatory vaccination were available based on certain medical contraindications or on sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances. Exemption request forms are available on the Human Resources website.

Why does the university require the vaccine?
Having a fully vaccinated campus enables us to protect the health of our community as we  have returned to full in-person teaching, learning, research and campus life this fall. We also have a responsibility to protect the patients we serve in our hospitals.  A fully vaccinated community also helps protect those in our university community who are unable to get the vaccine or more vulnerable because of poor immune response to vaccines due to underlying medical conditions.

I work remotely. Do I still have to get the vaccine?
Yes. All students, faculty, staff and trainees are required to get the vaccine, regardless of whether they are currently working on campus. 

I’ve already had COVID. Do I still have to get the vaccine?
Yes. While those previously infected do have some protection against reinfection and likely a lower risk of transmitting COVID-19 to others, those who have had previous infection do still need to be vaccinated. It is unclear if natural immunity is as robust or long-lived as that which is generated by vaccines. There is substantial evidence that vaccination boosts antibody responses in those previously infected. 

What does it mean to be “fully vaccinated”?
Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series or a single dose from a one-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for use by the FDA or the World Health Organization.

Will the university give me time off to go get vaccinated?
Yes. Employees may receive a vaccine on regular work time and supervisors must allow time for employees to be vaccinated.

Which vaccines are acceptable to meet the university requirement?
We are requiring that all students, faculty, staff and trainees receive a vaccine authorized by the FDA or the World Health Organization. Click the links to see current lists of authorized vaccines.

Will the university provide me with the vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccination appointments are available through the university for all Washington University students, faculty and staff.  To make a vaccination appointment, email covidvaccine@wustl.edu. 

How do I provide my vaccine documentation?

FACULTY AND STAFF

  • Take a picture or scan your COVID-19 proof of vaccination
    • Please save the file in one of the extension formats: pdf, png, jpg, jpeg, txt, doc, docx, tif, tiff
  • Log in to your ReadySet account and go to the “My Health” tab
    • For a better experience, using Google Chrome is recommended
  • Choose “Documents” from the side navigation and then click “Upload Document”
  • Click “Select a File”’ to upload the document
  • Name the file in the “Document Name”’ field
  • Select “Document Type” and “COVID-19 Vaccination”

Note: Faculty and staff who receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the university do not need to upload documentation. Your information will be updated in the system for you.

STUDENTS

Upload an image of your COVID-19 vaccination record card in your student health portal by visiting the Habif Health and Wellness Center website and clicking on the link for “Log in to the student portal.” Danforth Campus students, if you are already fully vaccinated, please complete this no later than July 15.

What if I lost my vaccine card?
If you lost your vaccine card or other proof of vaccination, you should contact the organization where you received the vaccination to obtain proof of vaccination. If you cannot obtain proof, please contact Occupational Health at covidvaccine@wustl.edu.

Who can I contact with a question about the COVID-19 vaccine?
Consult your personal physician for medical advice. You can email covidquestions@wustl.edu with questions about the university vaccine requirement, and you can email covidvaccine@wustl.edu  with questions about your vaccination appointment.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION