COVID-19 Vaccine Information
←Return to main COVID-19 Info page
On this page: Vaccine Requirements | Booster and Additional Shots | How and Where to Get the Vaccine | After Getting Vaccinated | Frequently Asked Questions
Vaccine Requirements, Exemptions and Compliance
Every faculty member, staff member and student plays a vital role in the health and safety of our University community. 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.
Up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations (including a booster when eligible) are required for all on-campus students, faculty and staff. Getting a second booster is not necessary to be considered up-to-date at this time. Find more about the booster requirement.
- If you have previously submitted proof of vaccination, including one booster, you do not need to do anything further.
-
All new faculty, staff and students must upload proof of full vaccination, including a booster when eligible, to the University Health Center (UHC) portal before reporting to class or work in person.
- This requirement does not apply if you have been granted a medical or religious exemption; please request an exemption as appropriate.
- If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 6 months, this may substitute for one booster shot; please attest to having tested positive.
- Affiliates coming to campus one or more days per week and interacting with UMD students, faculty, or staff are also required to be up-to-date on vaccines. See guidelines for affiliates.
-
Students arriving from outside the United States: Important vaccine information is available from the UHC. Please make every effort to receive your booster before your arrival. If you don't currently have access to the Pfizer or Moderna booster at your location, please contact ISSS for information on how to meet your booster requirement immediately upon your arrival.
UMD will comply with all federal and state laws in granting appropriate exemptions for medical or religious reasons.
Request a Vaccine Exemption
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.
For Students:
Students who are not up-to-date on vaccines 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.
Booster and Additional Shots
Booster Shot
Every member of our community – faculty, staff and students – is required to remain up-to-date with the vaccine mandate by obtaining a mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine booster within 14 days of becoming eligible.
- Getting a second booster is not necessary to be considered up-to-date at this time.
- If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 6 months, this may substitute for one booster shot; please attest to having tested positive.
-
This requirement does not include the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because the CDC no longer recommends this vaccine in most cases. However, if you have already received a Johnson & Johnson booster, this will meet the booster requirement.
-
Faculty, staff and students who are not up-to-date with their vaccine by receiving a booster when eligible, including those with an approved medical or religious exemption, will be required to sign a risk memorandum until they become up-to-date.
Additional Shot
- Recommended by the CDC for people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems.
-
Different from receiving a vaccine “booster.” Studies have found that some immunocompromised people don’t always build the same level of immunity after vaccination the way non-immunocompromised people do and may benefit from an additional dose to ensure adequate protection against COVID-19.
How and Where to Get the Vaccine
There are several ways to make an appointment to receive your initial vaccine, a booster or an additional shot.
The University Health Center (UHC) is administering the Pfizer vaccine for our campus community. Appointments can be scheduled for a variety of clinic day options, and clinic days will continue to be added as needed. If there are no appointments available when you first check, please check back often, as new dates and times will be added as staffing allows.
Schedule an appointment at myuhc.umd.edu
Appointments are available to all students, faculty and staff for:
- First dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
- Second dose of the Pfizer vaccine (must be 21-42 days following an initial Pfizer dose)
- Booster Shots: Anyone on our campus who is eligible.
-
Additional Shot: Anyone on our campus with a moderately to severely compromised immune system who received their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days ago.
Where: Most clinics are held on-campus at the UHC. If a clinic location is available at another on-campus location, that will be stated within the appointment selection process.
Parking: Free parking is available at the Union Lane Garage for those attending the UHC clinic.
For questions, please contact vaccineclinic@umd.edu
All Marylanders age 5 and older are eligible for vaccination.
- Statewide: Find a vaccine clinic near you on maryland.gov
- Prince George’s County Residents and UMD Employees: Options for getting vaccinated are available on princegeorgescountymd.gov
The CDC has tools to find vaccine providers across the country.
For UMD Employees
Release Time or Administrative Leave is available for employees to get COVID-19 vaccines, additional doses and boosters, and the seasonal flu vaccine. Please review more details on available time and how to use it.
After Getting Vaccinated
- Upload your vaccine and booster information 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.
Resources
- COVID-19 Vaccine Info - also available en español, including where to find a vaccination clinic near you
- COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard
- 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.
UMD App is the official mobile app for campus. It provides up-to-date information and access to popular campus services, all from your mobile device. Visit umd.edu/app for more information and download.
