No. While the UHC is providing free vaccines to all eligible members of the campus community, it is not staffed to provide full services to the entire campus community—only students, who fund the UHC with their student fees. Faculty and staff should reach out to their local healthcare provider prior to the vaccine appointment to discuss the pros and cons of getting vaccinated. This enables the vaccination process to continue working smoothly and efficiently for everyone.
To find out more about the vaccines, watch this webinar, in which faculty from our own AU/UGA Medical Partnership answer common questions; consult our online FAQs; talk with your local medical provider; or contact the Department of Public Health. Once you have made your decision to be vaccinated, you may click here to schedule your free appointment at the UHC. Walk-ups are not accepted.
Information can be found at: UGA HR Disability Services
UHC does not provide vaccine exemptions for employees who are not students, nor does UHC provide religious exemption consults. Please refer to the UGA HR link above for more information concerning those situations.
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. In addition, UGA retirees, faculty/staff/student dependents, campus visitors, and active employees and currently enrolled students of other USG institutions are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines at UHC.
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 vaccine appointments.
- UGA retirees, faculty/staff dependents, campus visitors, and active employees and students of other USG institutions should call 706.542.5575 to schedule an appointment.
If you completed all of the recommended doses of a WHO-EUL COVID-19 vaccine that is not approved or authorized by the FDA (AstraZeneca-Oxford, Sinopharm-BIBP, Sinovac-CoronaVac, Bharat Biotech International COVID-19 Vaccines) or if you received a combination of a WHO-EUL vaccine and an FDA approved vaccine, you are considered fully vaccinated. Certain individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should receive an additional (3rd dose) of the Pfizer vaccine 28 days after the 2nd dose. Individuals >18 years of age who completed a WHO-EUL COVID-19 vaccine not approved by the FDA or received a combination of an FDA approved vaccine should receive a single booster dose of Pfizer at least six months after completing their primary series. Individuals who started but did not complete a WHO-EUL COVID-19 vaccine series, should consider receiving a complete FDA approved vaccine series beginning at least 28 days since the receipt of the last dose of a non-FDA approved/authorized vaccine. For more information, visit CDC’s Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines.
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.
Students may make an appointment by using the UHC Patient Portal. Faculty, staff, and dependents should call 706-542-5575 to schedule an appointment.
Vaccines will only be given by appointment, and we are being very careful to ensure that no vaccine is wasted. 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.
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. Please see “How do I make an appointment” above for more information on scheduling an appointment.
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.
Beginning January 3, UHC will only offer the Pfizer vaccine. You may locate other brands of vaccine in the community by visiting www.vaccines.gov
We will discuss when you need to return for an additional vaccine with you at your appointment and if appropriate will set you up for an appointment.
We recommend you stay for 15-30 minutes after receiving the vaccine depending on your medical history.
Vaccine-specific FAQs:
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.
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.
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.
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
The vaccine can take up to two weeks to offer protection.