COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a location on UGA Campus?
Paid UGA faculty, staff, and students are eligible to receive the vaccine. This includes faculty, staff, and students at UGA’s extended campuses.

Extended Eligibility since May 10 includes the following:

• UGA retirees
• Spouses and significant others of UGA retirees, faculty, staff, and students
• Visitors to campus engaged in research, academic, or non-academic summer engagement/transition opportunities
• Active employees and (primarily) students enrolled at other USG institutions who live in the Athens vicinity and who wish to receive vaccine at the UHC over the summer

Access is different for different groups by one of these three options:

1. For UGA Students and Employees please use the UHC Patient Portal to schedule your first dose.
2. For members of the bulleted list of extended eligibility above, please submit this survey, and we will reach out to you to schedule the appointment directly.
3. Please note that ALL second doses must be scheduled separately and ALL eligible groups should use the same method by emailing covidvaccine@uhs.uga.edu. We will work directly with you to get the proper vaccine at the proper time. Even students who have graduated can return to the UHC.

The following groups are eligible to schedule appointments for the Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccine if it has been at least 6 months since completion of the primary Pfizer vaccine series:

• Individuals 65 years and older
• Individuals 50-64 years old with underlying medical conditions
• Individuals 18-49 years old based on individual benefits and risks with underlying medical conditions
• Individuals 18-64 years old at increased risk of exposure and transmission due to occupational or institutional setting

On October 20, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended its emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of a single booster dose as follows:
More information in the Campus Message

The use of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine that may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series to individuals:

• 65 years of age and older
• 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19
• 18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2

The use of a single booster dose of the Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine may be administered at least 2 months after completion of the single-dose primary regimen to individuals 18 years of age and older.

The use of each of the available COVID-19 vaccines as a heterologous (or “mix and match”) booster dose in eligible individuals following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine.

Appointments may be scheduled at patientportal.uhs.uga.edu. Bring your original vaccine card to the appointment.

Yes. If a patient is eligible, both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines can be administered at the same visit. If a patient is due for both vaccines, providers are encouraged to offer both vaccines at the same visit.

You may receive the vaccine at the UHC in Athens during your eligible Phase. You may also receive the vaccine from your local healthcare provider or Department of Public Health.

You will not be required to take leave to travel to and from the Athens campus should you come to the UHC for your scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointment. The authorized use of a University vehicle to travel to and from the Athens campus to receive the vaccine at the UHC is permissible. Authorized travel mileage reimbursement to and from the Athens campus is also permissible to receive the vaccine at the UHC.

Vaccines will only be given by appointment, and we are being very careful to ensure that no vaccine is wasted. You will receive an email invite that includes instructions on how to make an appointment and register with the University Health Center. You will not need to take leave for your vaccine appointments; if you choose to receive the vaccine from somewhere other than the UHC, please work with your supervisor if this will require you to be away from work for more than 2 hours. Supervisors should provide as much flexibility as is reasonable to facilitate vaccine appointments.

If you are receiving a second dose of the Moderna vaccine, you may call the Allergy/Travel Clinic at 706-542-5575 to schedule.

We have prepared a brief video that explains how the process is managed at the University Health Center. If you have not already watched the video, we encourage you to do so.

Current and incoming UGA students can now get their first or second COVID-19 vaccine dose at 15 USG campuses around the state. Visit www.usg.edu/vaccination today to schedule an appointment at the campus closest to you.

Yes. We will need to confirm availability of the same vaccine as your first dose. Please email covidvaccine@uhs.uga.edu.

There is no out-of-pocket cost for COVID-19 vaccination. You will be asked to provide your insurance card so we can charge an administration fee. If you are uninsured or your insurance does not reimburse for the administration fee, you will not be billed.

• We use vaccine as we receive it. For your first dose you may receive the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• If you require the second dose of vaccine, you will receive the same brand as your first dose (for example, if you were vaccinated with Pfizer first, your second dose will be Pfizer).

• We will make a return appointment for you to receive your second dose. You will also receive a vaccination card that tells you which vaccine you received and when you need to return.
• If you receive the Pfizer vaccine, you will need to return in about 3 weeks for your second dose. If you receive the Moderna vaccine, you will need to return in about 4 weeks.

We recommend you stay for 15-30 minutes after receiving the vaccine.

CDC Guidance: Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
CDC Infographic: Choosing Safer Activities (pdf)

• UGA’s Closed Point of Dispensing agreement with the GA Department of Health is to cover individuals based on their role with UGA (active employment or whose role as a student qualifies them to receive a vaccine. Roles outside of UGA (e.g., employee elsewhere or as a volunteer) do not qualify an individual to be shifted to be eligible earlier in UGA’s distribution. However, those with a role that is different than their role at UGA that qualifies them as eligible, may visit the GDPH website to locate other vaccine distribution sites (https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine).

• At the end of the day, if the number of available vaccines and the number of scheduled appointments is not congruent, we 1) contact scheduled patients to reschedule for the next day and not open another vial, 2) contact patients who are scheduled for the next day to come in a day early to utilize every dose in an open vial or 3) contact patients we know that are in the appropriate tier who have not yet received vaccine that might be interested. UHC is committed to utilizing every dose of vaccine possible.