COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements

Updated August 11, 2022

On this page, you’ll find information about vaccine requirements for faculty, staff, and students, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

Faculty, staff, and students

The University requires all students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 (two doses, or one-dose Johnson & Johnson) unless an exemption is granted.

Effective April 6, 2022, the booster requirement for all University students, faculty, and staff (including those at the University of Rochester Medical Center) has been put on hold indefinitely. This is subject to change based on future New York State or Monroe County COVID guidance, or worsening COVID rates on campus or in the Rochester community.

All students, faculty, and staff are still strongly encouraged to get their COVID booster upon becoming eligible.

Frequently asked questions

The University requires all faculty, staff, and students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless an exemption is granted. The booster is not a current University requirement.

Failure to comply with this vaccination requirement will result in corrective action measures applied with respect to the University’s COVID-19 vaccine policy (#165) and COVID-19 healthcare provider vaccine policy (#164).

Students are required to be fully vaccinated and are strongly encouraged, but no longer required, to get the booster upon becoming eligible.

If you are a new or incoming student, reference vaccine requirement and reporting steps on the University Health Service (UHS) website.

Students with questions regarding vaccinations and exemptions should contact UHS at uhscovid19@uhs.rochester.edu or (585) 275-2662.

The University will follow New York State and CDC guidance for COVID-19 vaccines, and will recognize students as fully vaccinated who have received vaccines approved for emergency use by the CDC, which currently includes the vaccines listed on the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use list (click on button: Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process). University leaders are continuing to monitor relevant guidance and will update requirements as new information becomes available.

No, you not currently required to get a booster.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a vaccine mandate covering many health care workers. The Supreme Court did put OSHA’s vaccine mandate for large employers on hold, but individual employers remain free to require vaccines.

It is true that people who are fully vaccinated and boosted can still contract COVID. But it is also true that the COVID vaccines, especially when followed by a booster, lower the risk of infection. And prevention of infection results in prevention of potential onward transmission from individuals who were spared the infection.

The University is requiring that all personnel employed by or affiliated with contractors, suppliers, and consultants, and who perform work indoors on the University’s campuses and properties be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing the week before and each week during their time on campus. Get full details on the University Facilities website.