COVID-19 FAQ

About the Vaccine

How many doses will I need to receive for the vaccine to be fully effective?
Two doses of the vaccine are required. For the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine, the doses have to be a minimum of three weeks apart. For the Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine, the doses have to be a minimum of four weeks apart.

What variant of the COVID-19 vaccines will be available to the VSU community?
VSU received both the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine and the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.

VSU is not administering the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine at this time.

Who is eligible to receive the vaccine?
On March 23, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced that the state would expand the current criteria for vaccine eligibility beginning Thursday, March 25, to include all adults ages 16 and older.

This announcement does not affect those who have already been declared eligible to receive the vaccine.

View the current vaccine criteria

VSU is committed to working to ensure that everyone in our community who is eligible for a vaccine has the opportunity to receive it.

Why should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines are widely recognized as an important tool in keeping the public safe from infectious diseases. Covid-19 vaccines are nearly 95% effective in preventing you from contracting the coronavirus infection as well as keeping you from becoming severely ill if you do contract Covid-19. It may help protect others you come in contact with, including friends and family. Vaccination is key to ending the Covid-19 pandemic.

Learn more:

Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

Will VSU require staff, faculty, or students to take the vaccine?
While highly encouraged to protect yourself as well as the community, at this time, it is not mandatory for staff, faculty, or students to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

If I have already contracted and recovered from Covid-19, should I get the vaccine?
You should get the Covid-19 vaccine even if you have been infected with Covid-19. Antibody tests are not required for vaccination.

Individuals who are currently infected with Covid-19 should get vaccinated after their infection ends and isolation orders are lifted.

Is there anyone who should avoid getting the vaccine as it becomes available?

According to the manufacturers of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine and the Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine, you should not get the Covid-19 vaccine if you:

had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine
had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of this vaccine

Tell your vaccination provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have any allergies
have a fever
have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
are immunocompromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
are breastfeeding
have received another COVID-19 vaccine

Vaccine Appointments

Do I need to register to receive the vaccine? If so, how?
Yes, if you belong to one of the eligible groups as defined by the Georgia Department of Public Health, you will need to register for a vaccine appointment through Sign-Up Genius. This link is also provided on the Student Health Center Webpage.

Where do I go to get the vaccine?
Covid-19 vaccines are administered at the:
Student Health Center
200 Georgia Avenue (Across the street from Georgia Hall Residence)

Parking

Parking is available in the Student Health Parking Lot

Do I need to do anything before my vaccination appointment?
Before coming to your vaccination appointment, you will need to:

Download and complete the vaccination consent form, this will be emailed to you prior to your second dose in a reminder email.
Print it out to bring with you to the clinic. This will shorten your time in the clinic.
You should also review the FDA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers and Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine

Will I get a reminder when it is time for my second dose?
Those who received their first dose at VSU will receive a direct communication email from the Health Center with instructions to receive their second vaccine. You will not need to sign up again using Signup Genius.

Individuals who received their first vaccine dose at a location other than VSU should notify the Health Center that you need a second dose.

I currently cannot find available vaccination appointment slots. How can I be notified about available appointments?
We will continue to open appointments as additional vaccine becomes available.

Notifications of openings will be sent by email as well as updated on the Health Center Webpage.

First and Second Doses

If I receive a Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine for my first dose, can I receive a Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine for my second dose or vice versa?
No. The vaccines are not interchangeable and both doses must match. Your vaccine card will specify the type of vaccine you received and when you received it.

Do I have to get both doses from VSU?
No, it is not necessary to get both doses from VSU.

It is important to note that VSU is administering only the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine in the vaccination clinic and is opening appointments based upon supply.

Will I still need to be tested for Covid-19 while I'm in the process of receiving the first and second doses of the vaccine?
Yes. Routine testing is recommended for individuals undergoing vaccination as well as after they are fully inoculated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that individuals who have been vaccinated for Covid-19 still need to practice mitigation strategies to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including wearing a mask, social distancing, and diligent handwashing.

What should I do if I get ill in between doses?
If you experience a severe allergic reaction, call 911, or go to the nearest hospital.

Call the Health Center (students) or your healthcare provider (faculty/staff) if your illness seems to be more than mild to moderate expected side effects of the vaccination.

As part of this vaccination program, the Health Center is required to report serious adverse events (irrespective of whether they are caused by the vaccination) after vaccination, which include death, a life-threatening event, inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of an existing hospitalization, a persistent or significant incapacity or significant disruption of the ability to conduct normal life functions, a congenital anomaly or birth defect, or an important medical event that based on medical judgment may jeopardize the individual and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the outcomes above. Any event meeting these criteria should be reported to the Health Center.

You may also be given an option to enroll in v-safe. V-safe is a new voluntary smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to check in with people who have been vaccinated to identify potential side effects after Covid-19 vaccination. V-safe asks questions that help the CDC monitor the safety of Covid-19 vaccines. V-safe also provides second-dose reminders if needed and live telephone follow-up by CDC if participants report a significant health impact following Covid-19 vaccination. For more information on how to sign up, visit: www.cdc.gov/vsafe.

Source: Moderna and Pfizer info sheets

Fully Vaccinated

Will I still have to wear a mask on campus after receiving the vaccine?
Recent guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that after you’ve been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, you should continue to take precautions in public places, such as campus, which include wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces until more information is known.

In addition, it is possible to get infected just before and right after your vaccination since your immunity takes time to develop. Preventive measures, along with vaccinations, are imperative to curb the pandemic.

Will I receive documentation that I have received the vaccine?
Yes, every person who receives a Covid-19 vaccine in the United States is given a vaccine card at the time of their first dose. The vaccine administration card will list which type of vaccine they received, the lot number, the date, and the signature of the individual who gave the vaccination.

Vaccine recipients should keep this documentation and remember to bring this documentation with them to their second Covid-19 vaccination.

Will I still need to be tested for Covid-19 after I receive both doses and am fully inoculated?
Recent guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that fully inoculated individuals should still watch out for symptoms of Covid-19, especially if they have been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of Covid-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.

The new CDC guidelines still recommend testing for fully vaccinated employees of non-healthcare, high-density settings and workplaces (such as campuses), following an exposure and through routine workplace screening programs. The CDC also recommends other prevention steps (wearing a mask, social distancing, diligent handwashing) to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, even as vaccines are being distributed.

VSU is committed to the safety of the campus community.