COVID-19 Vaccine Information
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On this page: Vaccine Requirements | Vaccine Exemptions | Vaccine Compliance | How and Where to Get Vaccinated | After Getting Vaccinated | Frequently Asked Questions
Like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Maryland Department of Health, and medical providers across the country, the University of Maryland strongly believes that the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from getting the disease, in addition to following preventive measures. We will continue to update this page as new information becomes available.
Vaccine Requirements for Fall 2021
Every faculty member, staff member and student plays a vital role in the health and safety of our University community. We ask that each of you consider your health and the health of others, and comply with the vaccine mandate. Getting vaccinated remains the best way to ensure that we have a full and rich experience during the fall semester.
COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all students, faculty and staff returning to campus this fall semester, as announced by the University System of Maryland Chancellor.
- If you are vaccinated but have not yet confirmed your status with the University, please visit return.umd.edu and click “Confirm Vaccination Status” as soon as possible.
- Students who did not confirm full or partial vaccination status, or request a religious or medical exemption by Monday, August 16 at 5:00 p.m. have had their course registration canceled. To regain access to Testudo and re-register for the fall 2021 semester, confirm your status at return.umd.edu.
- Students living in university-owned residence halls and fraternity/sorority chapter houses must be fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption before arriving on campus for their move-in appointment.
- The university has announced expectations and requirements for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated community members. See Health and Safety requirements.
- Important vaccine information for students arriving from outside the United States is available from the University Health Center.
- Affiliates coming to campus one or more days per week and interacting with UMD students, faculty, or staff are also required to be vaccinated. See guidelines for affiliates.
Vaccine Exemptions
UMD will comply with all federal and state laws in granting appropriate exemptions for medical or religious reasons.
See An Example Exemption Form:
- Example religious exemption form (PDF); for review only. Do not submit this example form.
- Example medical exemption form (PDF); for review only. Do not submit this example form.
Vaccine Compliance
For Students:
Students who are not vaccinated without an exemption will face serious and immediate consequences to their registration and enrollment status.
For Faculty and Staff:
If a staff or faculty member does not comply with masking, testing or any other health and safety requirements, progressive discipline will be implemented, up to and including termination.
If you need help with the vaccine requirement and/or compliance, please complete the COVID-19 Compliance Support Request form.
How and Where to Get Vaccinated
There are several ways to make an appointment to be vaccinated, and some locations may have walk-up availability.
The university is working with vaccination partners to administer vaccines to our campus community. Details on vaccine appointments are shared with the community and posted here as they become available.
University Health Center Vaccine Clinic (Pfizer vaccine)
Available To: All students, faculty and staff, for both first or second dose appointments.
Where: On-campus at the University Health Center; report to Registration to check in
When:
- Wednesday, September 29: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
-
Tuesday, October 5: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Free Parking: Available at the Union Lane Garage for those attending the clinic at the University Health Center.
Schedule an appointment at myuhc.umd.edu
All Marylanders age 12 and older are eligible for vaccination.
- Find a vaccination clinic near you on maryland.gov
- Prince George’s County Residents and UMD Employees: Individuals who live or work in the county can make an appointment for their first dose of the vaccine or find a clinic for walk-in vaccinations. Options for getting vaccinated are available on princegeorgescountymd.gov
The CDC has tools to find vaccine providers across the country.
For UMD Employees
Administrative leave for vaccine appointments is available to regular and Contingent II staff and faculty. Please review more details on available time and how to use it.
After Getting Vaccinated
- Confirm your vaccine status manually by uploading proof of vaccination to the UHC portal.
- If the UHC has been able to automatically verify your vaccine with the state's regional database, your status will reflect that. Note that the state's regional database is not comprehensive and timely, so if you have been vaccinated and have not been automatically matched yet, don't wait - upload your proof of vaccination manually to the UHC portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have indicated that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in preventing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us getting the illness. Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection. But with all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply of “memory” T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus in the future. You can learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work by visiting the CDC’s website. Currently, three vaccines are authorized and recommended in the United States to prevent COVID-19: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. The list of ingredients included in the three vaccines is available on the CDC website.
Yes. The University System of Maryland announced on April 23, 2021 that all eligible students, faculty, and staff on Maryland campuses are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before the start of the fall 2021 semester. Getting vaccinated is important for our UMD campus community’s health, safety, and well-being, and we encourage all students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
Students, faculty, and staff should get vaccinated as soon as possible and confirm their vaccination status at return.umd.edu by clicking “Confirm Vaccination Status”. Students who did not confirm full or partial vaccination status, or request a religious or medical exemption by Monday, August 16 at 5:00 p.m. have had their course registration canceled. To regain access to Testudo and re-register for the fall 2021 semester, confirm your status at return.umd.edu.
To Confirm Your Vaccination Status:
- Confirm your vaccine status manually by uploading proof of vaccination to the UHC portal.
- If the UHC has been able to automatically verify your vaccine with the state's regional database, your status will reflect that. Note that the state's regional database is not comprehensive and timely, so if you have been vaccinated and have not been automatically matched yet, don't wait - upload your proof of vaccination manually to the UHC portal.
For Partially Vaccinated Individuals: If you've had a first dose, input your first dose information manually to the UHC portal as soon as possible so you can be in Pending status.
The CDC indicates that in general, people are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
Yes. UMD will comply with all federal and state laws in granting appropriate exemptions for medical or religious reasons.
Request a vaccine exemption for medical or religious reasons here. UMD Central Authentication Service (CAS) login required.
Review samples of the exemption information:
- Example religious exemption form (PDF); for review only. Do not submit this example form.
- Example medical exemption form (PDF); for review only. Do not submit this example form.
Any students, faculty, or staff granted a vaccination exemption are required to:
- wear a mask indoors at all times and while outdoors in crowded spaces
- sign a memorandum acknowledging the health risks of being unvaccinated
- comply with regular, twice-a-week on-campus COVID-19 testing
Yes, the CDC indicates that you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Evidence suggests that natural immunity may not last as long, and that immunity from vaccines may be more robust and last longer. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible that you could become re-infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 after your immunity wanes.
Yes. All students, faculty, or staff coming to campus are required to be vaccinated.
Those who have been fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms will not need to be tested regularly.
Note: Anyone not fully vaccinated will need to get tested twice weekly and attest the results at return.umd.edu.
In Maryland
All Marylanders age 12 and older are eligible for vaccination.
- Find a vaccination clinic near you on maryland.gov .
- Prince George’s County Residents and UMD Employees: Individuals who live or work in the county can make an appointment for their first dose of the vaccine or find a clinic for walk-in vaccinations. Options for getting vaccinated are available on princegeorgescountymd.gov
Outside the State of Maryland
The CDC has tools to find vaccine providers across the country.
If you need help with the vaccine requirement and/or compliance, please complete the COVID-19 Compliance Support Request form.
Please visit umd.edu/4Maryland for up-to-date UMD COVID-19 information. If you have additional questions, please email healthconcerns@umd.edu.
Students who did not confirm full or partial vaccination status, or request a religious or medical exemption by Monday, August 16 at 5:00 p.m. have had their course registration canceled. To regain access to Testudo and re-register for the fall 2021 semester, confirm your status at return.umd.edu. You will be blocked from registering for courses for the fall 2021 semester and beyond until you are compliant with the vaccine mandate.
Students who are not in compliance with the campus’ vaccination requirement may have their class registrations canceled and will not be allowed to move in or live in university-owned residence halls or Chapter Houses. Further, students not in compliance will be denied access to all university-owned buildings and campus services, including, but not limited to, academic buildings, dining and RecWell facilities, libraries, and The Stamp.
All students living in the university-owned residence halls and fraternity/sorority chapter houses must be fully vaccinated (i.e., a completed vaccine regimen plus 14 days after your final vaccine dose) or have an approved religious or medical exemption before arriving on campus for their move-in appointment.
Residents who are not in full compliance with the vaccination requirements will not be issued keys or allowed to check in.
- Residence hall students should check their Arrival Passport before coming to campus to ensure they are cleared for check-in.
- Students living in an on-campus fraternity or sorority house should ensure their vaccination status is green and they are cleared to come to campus at return.umd.edu under "Check My Status."
Resources
- COVID-19 Vaccine Info - also available en español, including where to find a vaccination clinic near you
- COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard
- 4 Questions with Dr. Marinopoulos: Fall 2021 Guidance (YouTube) - UMD’s University Health Center Director Dr. Spyridon Marinopoulos answers 4 pressing questions about campus mask guidance and getting the COVID-19 vaccine
- Getting Ready for Your COVID-19 Vaccine - includes a tool to find your state health department’s COVID-19 information online
- Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines
- 8 Things to Know About the Vaccine
Feedback
We value input from our campus community. Please fill out our feedback form to share suggestions or report concerns about health and safety on campus.
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