COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Vax Up at UHC. Schedule now at the UHC Vaccine Portal

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:

Dependents of UGA faculty, staff, and students who are of age to be eligible for the vaccines (currently 12 years and older)
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
Those visiting campus as part of Orientation
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:

For UGA Students and Employees please use the UHC Patient Portal to schedule your first dose.
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.
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.

What if I am based at a UGA extended campus or elsewhere in the state?
You may receive the vaccine at the UHC in Athens. 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.

How do I make an appointment?
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.

COVID-19 vaccinations are now available across the state--schedule now at a USG campus near you.
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.

I did not get my first Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the University of Georgia’s UHC; can I get the second dose at UHC?
Yes. We will need to confirm availability of the same vaccine as your first dose. Please email covidvaccine@uhs.uga.edu.

What is the cost for vaccination?
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.

Can I request a specific brand of vaccine?

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).

If I receive Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, how will I know when to come back for my second vaccination?

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.

Why will I need to stay on site for monitoring after my vaccination?
We recommend you stay for 15-30 minutes after receiving the vaccine.

After I receive the vaccine do I still need to wear a mask and practice social distancing?
CDC Guidance: Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
CDC Infographic: Choosing Safer Activities (pdf)

What if I work outside of UGA in a setting that qualifies me to be eligible to receive a vaccine?

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).

What if there are extra doses of 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.

Vaccine-specific FAQs:

Where can I learn more about the different vaccines?
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines.html

What are the most common side effects?
Side effects are mild, temporary, and normal signs that your body is building protections. You may experience pain and swelling in the arm of the injection. Throughout the rest of your body you may experience fever, chills, tiredness, and headache.

Can someone contract COVID-19 from the vaccine?
No, it is not possible to contract COVID-19 from the vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines use inactivated virus, parts of the virus, or a gene from the virus. The vaccine imitates the infection so that our bodies create antibody defenses to fight off COVID-19.

If I already had COVID-19 should I still get the vaccine?
Yes. Individuals with a history of COVID-19 may wait for 90 days to receive the vaccine. However, you are eligible to receive the vaccine two weeks after completion of an isolation period.

Is the vaccine effective?
Yes! All three vaccines currently available for administration are extremely effective at reducing moderate to severe COVID-19 infections, including death. When ease of access, onset of immunity, context of initial trials, population benefits, and side effects are taken into account, we consider them equivalent. Vaccine specific efficacy information can be found at: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness.html

How long before the vaccine offers protection?
The vaccine can take up to two weeks to offer protection.

How long will the vaccine offer protection?
We do not yet know how long immunity lasts.

What if I have additional questions about the vaccine?
Please refer to the following sites: