Last updated on April 3, 2023
If you would like to receive your bivalent booster, book an appointment at a nearby vaccination site today! Please check the CDC website for eligibility and more information.
Vaccination and Booster Requirement
Please visit the Cowell Center Immunizations webpage for detailed information regarding all immunization requirements for students.
All students, faculty, and staff are required to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.
- For incoming students enrolling for the 2023-2024 academic year, SCU requires a COVID-19 primary series and one recent booster (booster must be from August 2022 or later). Students must be complete or in progress of vaccination by August 1, 2023. For students enrolled prior to the 2023-2024 academic year, SCU requires the COVID-19 primary series and one booster.
- Questions regarding individual student records may be submitted to the Cowell Center.
- For all Faculty and Staff, SCU requires a COVID-19 primary series and one booster.
Faculty and staff should upload their vaccination documentation to Workday.
I don’t have my vaccination card with me. What should I do?
You will need to upload documentation of your booster vaccination. This could be a picture of your physical vaccine card, or a digital vaccine card. If you upload a digital vaccine card, please make sure that your name and birthday are included on the digital card so we can confirm your information. If you received your vaccination in California, you can look up your vaccination record at https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/
How can I confirm if I uploaded this already?
Check your electronic health record by logging into the Cowell portal; from the menu (left side) find medical clearances and click on "update" next to "Covid". If you see an uploaded image and have entered the dates you received the vaccines, then you are all good. You may receive a reminder email, these are sent out to the entire student body, please do not stress if you receive this email and have already confirmed that you have uploaded this information.
Where can I receive a booster vaccination?
Those who reside in the county can use a variety of websites to locate vaccine sites. Some resources include Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 vaccine site and California's MyTurn vaccine scheduling website.
When should I receive the booster?
Please check the CDC website to see when you are eligible for the updated booster. Once you are eligible, you should get your booster as soon as possible, and you must upload your updated vaccination information into the Cowell Center | My Student Health Portal.
What if I’ve recently had COVID-19? When should I get the booster?
Those that have had covid illness, are not exempt from receiving the booster. The Santa Clara County Public Health Dept. says 10 days after infection if one is feeling well, or after 10 days once one feels better, they are eligible for the Covid Booster.
If you have received monoclonal antibody treatment for your covid-19, you cannot receive the vaccine/booster for 3 months. Please submit an Exemption Request form completed by a medical doctor and submit to Cowell for a temporary exemption.
Can I get an extension?
Cowell is keeping track of those students who will become eligible for the booster beyond the August 1. Please contact Cowell Health Services (cowellcenter@scu.edu) to request an extension.
Where can I ask questions about the booster?
If you need clarification beyond these FAQs, please email Cowell Health Services (cowellcenter@scu.edu) or covid19@scu.edu.
New Students Arriving for Fall Quarter or Fall Semester
All new students arriving from inside the U.S. and from countries outside the U.S. must obtain a vaccine and upload proof of vaccination, showing completion of the full series and the booster, by August 1, 2022. Students who fail to upload the vaccine verification by this deadline may be withdrawn from the University.
What vaccines meet the University requirement?
Vaccines meeting the University requirement include those approved by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and/or any other COVID-19 vaccine which has received emergency use authorization by the World Health Organization (WHO) or another national regulatory organization.
What other immunizations are currently required for students?
All incoming students (undergraduates, graduates, transfers, and re-admits) are required to comply with the Santa Clara University Immunization Requirements.
Can I receive a vaccine exemption?
Students, faculty, and staff who had already received an exemption from COVID vaccination will be considered exempt from the booster requirement.
To request an exemption, fill out the immunization exemption form. Upload the form and supporting medical documentation to the Cowell Center Portal, and email the Cowell Center (cowellcenter@scu.edu) a copy of the exemption request form.
Students may request a medical exemption due to the existence of a medical contraindication to the vaccine, detailed in written documentation from a healthcare provider.
Faculty or staff may request a medical exemption due to medical contraindication to the vaccine, detailed in written documentation from a healthcare provider. Faculty or staff may also request a religious exemption by attesting and describing that they have “a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance that is contrary to the practice of immunization.”
Why is there no religious exemption for students?
Due to the ongoing risk posed by COVID-19, and our goal of a safe return to campus, SCU will only consider requests for medical accommodations from students. This decision has been made in the best interest of our University community and surrounding neighborhoods, including those in our community who are medically vulnerable.
COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Policy for Graduate Students in Online Programs
Graduate students who are enrolled in an online educational program may seek an exemption to the University’s vaccination requirement if they attest to the Cowell Center that they will neither be on-campus nor use campus facilities. Should a student with an approved exemption visit the campus to use campus resources, participate in campus activities, or complete a residency requirement, the individual must comply with the vaccination requirement. To seek this exemption, graduate students should contact their respective college or school, which will work with the Cowell Center to register the exemption.
COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Policy for Graduate Students who have Completed 90% of Program Requirements
Graduate students who have completed at least 90 percent of their program requirements and are unvaccinated may seek an exemption to the University’s vaccination requirement in order to complete their degree program if the remaining required courses are offered in an online format. Such students must attest to the Cowell Center that they will neither be on-campus nor use campus facilities. Should a student with an approved exemption visit the campus to use campus resources, participate in campus activities, or complete a residency requirement, the individual must comply with the vaccination requirement. To seek this exemption, graduate students should contact their respective college or school, which will work with the Cowell Center to register the exemption.
How will the University support students from locations where the vaccine is not readily available? Or students who are living in other countries?
SCU will work to accommodate all students coming from outside the United States. The University will assist students to receive a vaccine upon arrival in Santa Clara County.
I have received only one dose of a two-dose vaccine - should I submit this to the SCU Portal?
No. Instead submit proof of your first dose in the Cowell system Mid-vaccination survey.
I have received my first shot of a two-dose vaccine outside the US and need to get my second shot in the US. Where can I get my second shot and how can I get a second shot of the same vaccination, e.g., Pfizer?
We recommend that you use https://myturn.ca.gov/ to find a walk-in clinic or book an appointment.
I have received my first shot of a two-dose vaccine outside the US, and my vaccine type is available in the US. Should I get a second shot in the US? How long do I need to wait?
Yes, get your second shot of the same vaccine type if possible. The minimum interval between doses is 21 days for the Pfizer vaccine, and 28 days for the Moderna vaccine.
If an international student is not able to find two doses of the same vaccine, is it okay to have a mix of different vaccines?
Neither the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or the WHO are explicitly recommending mixing vaccines, due to the lack of large clinical trials on combining different vaccines. However, it is generally accepted that mixed vaccination is usually effective, and has minimal additional risks. If your first shot was with a two-dose vaccine and a different vaccine is your only option for the second shot, either before or after you get to the US, SCU will accept the combination as a complete vaccination.
If I received a single dose of a two-dose vaccine outside the US, and my vaccine is NOT available in the US, can I get a second shot of a different vaccine here?
Yes, this is generally acceptable. The minimum interval between doses is 28 days.
If yes, should I get one or two doses of the new vaccine type?
If the vaccine type you originally received is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) or the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) as a two-dose vaccine, then the two combined doses will mean you are fully vaccinated.
If the vaccine type you originally received has not been approved by the WHO or FDA, then whatever you receive in the US will be considered the start of your vaccination, and you should get two doses here.
I have received a complete two-shot vaccination in my home country, but the vaccine has not yet received emergency use authorization from the WHO or FDA. Should I get a duplicate vaccine series after I enter the US?
Yes - unless you received Covaxin. Covaxin is under active consideration by the WHO, and may be approved by the time fall quarter starts at SCU, in which case you may not need additional vaccination doses if you completed vaccination with Covaxin in your home country.
Will international students and students coming from outside of the US who have been vaccinated in their countries need to be re-vaccinated in the United States with a vaccine that is authorized for use in the US?
SCU will accept COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the interest of health and safety, if you are outside the US and you only have access to a non-FDA/WHO-authorized vaccine (e.g. Sputnik V), we still recommend that you get vaccinated with the non-FDA/WHO-authorized vaccine as soon as possible.
SCU will continue to review guidance from US authorities on how to manage students who have received vaccines not approved by the FDA or WHO. Students who are partially vaccinated or vaccinated with a vaccine not approved by the FDA or WHO will be required to receive a vaccine no later than 14 days after arrival in the US. In the interim while on campus, you may be subject to special safety measures, like quarantine, frequent asymptomatic testing, and more extensive masking requirements.
SCU is planning to assist students needing additional vaccinations or boosters upon arrival in the US, based on guidance at that time.
If an international student is not able to find two doses of the same vaccine, is it okay to have a mix of different vaccines?
Neither the U.S. Centers for Disease Control or WHO are currently recommending mixing vaccines, due to the lack of completed clinical trials on the effectiveness of combining two different vaccines. However, there is some evidence emerging from smaller studies that mixed vaccination is effective, and likely works better than a single dose. We recommend talking to your doctor before proceeding. If your first shot was with a two-dose vaccine and a different vaccine is your only option for the second shot, either before or after you get to the U.S., we will accept the combination as a complete vaccination.
Is it okay if my proof of vaccination is in another language?
If your vaccine documentation has no English translation included, please include a translation when submitting it. We will follow up with you if there are further questions about the document.
Will fully vaccinated international students coming from outside the United States be required to quarantine upon arrival at Santa Clara University?
Fully vaccinated students who are asymptomatic will not need to quarantine. Students who have Covid-19 symptoms will have to quarantine.
Are international students residing in the Bay Area eligible for the vaccine?
Yes, international students residing in the US are eligible for the vaccine at state and country distribution sites, regardless of citizenship.
Can I get COVID-19 in between vaccine doses?
Yes, you can still be infected with COVID-19 in between your two-dose vaccine regimen. Make sure you continue mask-wearing and other safety protocols. If you do contract COVID-19 between vaccine doses, you should isolate for the required 10 days and then, provided you are asymptomatic, reschedule your second vaccine.
If I have an underlying condition, can I get a vaccine?
People with underlying medical conditions can receive the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines as long as they have not had an immediate or severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. Learn more about vaccination considerations for people with underlying medical conditions. Vaccination is an important consideration for adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions because they are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Can I get a vaccine if I am currently sick with COVID-19?
People with COVID-19 who have symptoms should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation; those without symptoms should also wait until they meet the criteria before getting vaccinated. This guidance also applies to people who get COVID-19 before getting their second dose of vaccine
If I’ve had COVID-19 and recovered, should I still get a vaccine?
You should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible—although rare—that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again. Learn more about why getting vaccinated is a safer way to build protection than getting infected.
If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
What are the side effects of the vaccine?
The most common side effects are pain and swelling in the arm where you received the shot. In addition, you may have fever, chills, tiredness, and headache. These side effects are more common after the second shot. The side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Learn more about what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
How long does protection from the vaccine last?
We don’t know how long protection lasts for those who are vaccinated. Experts are working to learn more about both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity, and the CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available. What we do know is that COVID-19 has caused very serious illness and death for a lot of people. If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer choice.
How many shots do I need?
Two of the currently authorized vaccines to prevent COVID-19 in the United States require two shots to get the most protection. The third, the Janssen vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, requires only one shot.
- Pfizer-BioNTech doses should be given 3 weeks (21 days) apart
- Moderna doses should be given 1 month (28 days) apart
You should get your second shot as close to the recommended 3-week or 1-month interval as possible. However, there is no maximum interval between the first and second doses for either vaccine. You should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval.
It’s important for us to keep using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic while we learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions. Experts are also looking at how many people get vaccinated, how the coronavirus is spreading in communities, and the effects of new mutations in the virus. CDC will continue to update this page as we learn more.
Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations for how to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from getting and spreading COVID-19. Additional information can be found at key things to know about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Should I continue to get tested even after I am vaccinated?
We recommend that you continue to get tested weekly until three weeks after your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or three weeks after receiving your J&J vaccine.
Where can I find the ingredients in the vaccine?
To learn more about the ingredients, see:
- Information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
- Information about the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
To learn more about ingredients in the J&J vaccine see: