Vaccination FAQs

About Vaccinations

The University of Denver will require all undergraduate and graduate students living, learning, or working on campus to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before returning to campus for the fall 2021 term. We are offering vaccination events on campus, prioritizing DU’s student population, and we will continue to offer vaccinations through spring term.

FAQs

  • Why is DU requiring the COVID-19 vaccine?

    Based on public health guidance, and given the infectiousness of COVID-19, the seriousness of the illness, and the consequences of COVID-19 on campus for our ability to engage fully in person, we believe it is in the best interests of the health and safety of our entire community if the vast majority of us are vaccinated.

  • Who is required to be vaccinated?

    At this time, all undergraduate and graduate students planning to access campus in the fall will be required to show proof of vaccination or have an approved exemption.

  • Are faculty and staff required to be vaccinated?

    This is still under consideration and a decision should be announced soon. Notably, faculty and staff on campus have already voluntarily reported vaccination rates approaching 80%.

  • What vaccines are accepted/required/recommended?

    Any vaccine approved in the US including Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen will be accepted. We also currently offer Pfizer vaccinations on campus. DU will work with students who have been vaccinated abroad as well as international students who do not have access to vaccines approved in the US.

  • How do I provide proof of vaccination?

    If you have already received your final COVID-19 vaccine dose, even if you were vaccinated on campus, please upload a picture of your vaccine card.

    1. Log on to myhealth.du.edu
    2. Select “send a message/load records” on the homepage
    3. Select “new message”
    4. Select “I want to submit Immunization Records”

    Once we receive your submission, you will receive a confirmation message. For questions about accessing myhealth or for help uploading, contact HCCinfo@du.edu.

  • What exemptions are allowed?

    DU will consider requests for applicable exemptions for medical, religious and personal reasons. Additional details regarding exemptions will be provided no later than May 1.

  • When am I required to be vaccinated by?

    Vaccination is required prior to arrival on campus for the fall term (August for Sturm College of Law students and September for the rest of campus), or your start date on campus, whichever is later. You must be fully vaccinated, meaning you must have received both doses of two-dose vaccinations and with the second shot at least 14 days prior to arrival on campus. With one shot vaccines, you must have been vaccinated at least 14 days prior to arrival on campus.

  • I can’t access a vaccine where I live, will DU offer me vaccination when I arrive?

    Yes. Until you are fully vaccinated, you must comply with DU’s testing and quarantining requirements for unvaccinated individuals, which include testing frequently and quarantine prior to returning to campus, after travel, or following exposure to COVID-19.

  • How does vaccination impact my testing requirements?

    Fully vaccinated individuals (two weeks post final vaccine dose) will be assigned a less frequent testing schedule. Those who have an approved exemption for medical, religious or personal reasons must test more frequently. Frequency of testing is also determined by activities on campus, residency, and related factors.

  • How does vaccination impact my quarantine requirements?

    Fully vaccinated individuals (two weeks post final vaccine dose) are not required to quarantine before returning to campus, after travel, or following exposure to COVID-19.

  • How can I request an exemption?

    Following careful deliberation by a working group, DU will provide guidance on how to submit a vaccine exemption and what exemptions we will consider. We anticipate providing additional guidance on personal, medical and religious exemptions by May 1.

  • Can I request a vaccine appointment at DU?

    If you would like a vaccine appointment on campus for a Pfizer vaccine, please complete this form.

    At this time, we are also able to extend vaccination to friends and family. For friends and family appointments, please complete this form.

    If you received your first Pfizer dose off campus and would like to receive your second dose on campus, email katia.miller@du.edu and sarah.watamura@du.edu. Provide your name and first vaccination date.

  • I’m a student. Can I get vaccinated when I arrive on campus?

    Yes. DU can facilitate vaccination for students. For the five or so weeks until you are “fully vaccinated,” you are required to wear a face covering and take more frequent tests for COVID-19. However, you are permitted to participate in all normal activities, such as living on campus and attending classes and events.

  • What are the procedures if I’ve been vaccinated with a vaccine not approved by the FDA?

    DU will evaluate such cases on a case-by-case basis, using the latest data from the World Health Organization.

    For now, for those who have received a non-FDA-approved vaccine:

    • Do not get an additional, FDA-approved vaccine until you receive further information fron DU
    • Upload your vaccination record at myhealth.du.edu
    • Wait for further information from DU

Vaccination Events

DU continues to hold vaccination events on campus with our health partner, National Jewish Health (NJH). At these events, we help NJH vaccinate eligible individuals from across the region. While our plans are dependent on the supply of the vaccine, we have committed to offering up to 1,100 vaccinations up to twice per week on campus. We will also host up to two additional and larger events each month, offering up to 3,000 vaccinations at each. 

We need volunteers for these events—especially volunteers who have already received their vaccine. Fill out this form to volunteer. Please note that we work hard to carefully assign appointments and avoid waste. Therefore, volunteering does not generally result in the opportunity to be vaccinated.

FAQs

  • What's your approach to vaccinations?

    Over the past few months, we have been able to offer vaccination appointments to every eligible DU faculty or staff member working on campus this spring. Given the state’s transition to the “general population” phase, we will now implement a strategy to support vaccination of DU students, faculty and staff not yet vaccinated, alongside outreach to community partners to support equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

    Thus far, we have focused our attention on eligible faculty and staff, particularly those working on campus. As a next, important step in our strategy to combat COVID-19, we want students living and studying on campus to receive the vaccine in the spring term.

    For the rest of the spring term, we intend to extend most of our vaccine appointments to students, while continuing to offer vaccine appointments to faculty and staff. Faculty and staff who have indicated they would like to receive the vaccine on campus will receive invitations through a lottery process. Of course, if you are able to get a vaccine elsewhere, we encourage you to do so.

  • What if I would like to volunteer to help?

    Please fill out this form. We welcome your willingness to serve. Note that volunteers, however, will likely not be receiving a vaccine. Occasionally, volunteers can be vaccinated at the end of the day. 

  • Should I show up at the vaccine event in case there are extra vaccines that might go to waste?

    No. We have a wait list of individuals who will be vaccinated and cannot add anymore at this time. Please do not turn up without an appointment and in hopes of unused vaccine.

  • What's next?

    We recognize that the current situation is stressful and that the uncertainty about vaccine access and timing is very challenging. We are working hard to increase vaccination access to DU personnel. We will continue to engage with city and state officials and to work in partnership with National Jewish Health as vaccine availability and distribution remains very fluid.

    For now, please keep showing up for your scheduled COVID tests and take the proper precautions--wear your face covering, practice good hand hygiene and maintain social distancing. 

  • Will I be eligible to get a vaccine at DU soon?

    Please be aware that vaccine availability continues to be somewhat unpredictable and we are not always informed about how many vaccines will be available until close to each event we co-host with National Jewish Health. Please be patient with us as we now work with the Vaccination Working Group to establish the timing and protocols for a wider distribution of vaccines to our own community members. We will share more about this process as soon as we are able. We continue to urge you to work with your health care provider or any other available vaccine resource.