Dear Students and Families:
I write to you today as a follow up to my April 30 communication. With the intent to have a mostly in-person fall semester, the University of San Francisco will require all undergraduate and graduate students, as well as all faculty and staff employees, to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 for fall 2021. The requirement will go into effect at the start of the fall semester on Aug. 24.
Vaccines are crucial to having a safe, healthy environment at USF and in our broader community. We encourage you to get a vaccine as soon as you are able to do so. As a reminder, all students should:
- Schedule their first vaccination appointment as soon as possible.
- Make a plan for the second dose at the same time.
- Protect and duplicate vaccine documentation cards.
Here are resources for securing a vaccination appointment in the United States:
- Visit VaccineFinder.org to find vaccination providers near you. In some states, information may be limited while more vaccination providers and pharmacies are being added.
- Check your local pharmacy’s website to see if vaccination appointments are available. Find out which pharmacies are participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.
- Contact your state health department to find additional vaccination locations in your area.
International students
International students are eligible to receive the vaccine in the U.S., and the San Francisco Department of Public Health has announced that vaccines are available to all individuals 12 years or older. International students living in the U.S. can follow the steps above to book a vaccination appointment in their current location or in San Francisco. Students arriving from abroad will be able to receive the vaccine upon arrival.
If you are an international student currently abroad and have completed a World Health Organization (WHO)-authorized vaccine series in your home country, you are considered fully vaccinated in the U.S. Following are the WHO-authorized vaccines:
- Pfizer (two doses)
- Moderna (two doses)
- Johnson & Johnson (one dose)
- AstraZeneca (two doses)
- BIBP/Sinopharm (one dose)
- Sinovac [effective 6/2]
If you have not completed a WHO-authorized vaccine series, or if you received a non-authorized vaccine, you need to get an FDA-authorized series in the U.S. to be considered fully vaccinated. Lastly, if you are an international student hoping to work in the U.S., there may be additional vaccine requirements from your employer.
As a reminder, students who complete a vaccine series are not required to complete the travel quarantine upon arrival.
Proof of vaccination
USF is partnering with Med+Proctor to track proof of vaccination. If you have received one or both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, please submit the results through Med+Proctor.
With proper documentation, USF will accept medical exemptions and religious and/or personal beliefs exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. Medical exemption requires a letter from a health care provider stating that the immunization is medically contraindicated. Proof of medical exemption can be submitted directly to Med+Proctor.
Religious and/or personal beliefs exemptions will only be accepted for the COVID-19 vaccine (and not other USF-required immunizations). An exemption requires a signed written statement from the student describing the reason for the exemption and must include:
- An explanation of the reason for exemption in your own words
- A description of the religious principle that guides your objection
- An indication of whether this religious belief constitutes an objection to all immunizations or only this vaccine; if it is not an objection to all immunizations, you must explain the religious basis for not receiving this particular immunization
Statements must be signed and submitted to USF Health Promotion Services using this form.
USF Together has all of this information in one place. This central site will continue to be updated throughout the summer.
Thank you for your attention to this very important matter. Your health, safety, and well-being are our highest priorities. We look forward to welcoming you to USF!
Sincerely,
Julie Orio
Vice President of Student Life