Update: January 18, 2022, 9:30 a.m.
Dear student,
As you prepare for your return to Buffalo State for the spring 2022 semester, this is a reminder to complete your required COVID-19 booster as soon as you are eligible.
The COVID-19 vaccine mandate will remain a requirement for all students regularly accessing Buffalo State campus facilities, as well as a new requirement that all students receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine within seven days of becoming eligible.
Failure to comply with this crucial health and safety policy will result in a referral to Student Conduct and Community Standards and could impact your ability to access in-person operations or to maintain enrollment in your courses at Buffalo State College.
How do I know if I am eligible for the COVID-19 booster?
You are eligible for the COVID-19 booster if you received the Moderna* or Pfizer-BioNTech initial vaccine series at least five months ago, or the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago. Your eligibility date is determined by the date of your final dose of your initial vaccine series.
*Please note as of January 7, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to shorten the time between the completion of a primary series of the vaccine and a booster dose to five months for individuals 18 years of age and older.
By what date am I required to receive the COVID-19 booster?
For Buffalo State students who are currently eligible for a booster, but have not yet received the booster dose, you are required to receive your shot no later than Monday, January 24, in order to attend classes in-person, access campus facilities, or live in a residence hall this spring.
For Buffalo State students who are not yet eligible for a booster, you will be required to receive your booster shot within seven days of your eligibility date in order to remain enrolled at the college, access facilities, or continue living on campus. You may continue to come to campus until your booster eligibility date, then you must receive your booster within seven days of your eligibility date to continue accessing campus.
Please note: per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), if you recently tested positive for COVID-19, you can receive your booster shot after you have completed isolation or quarantine and your symptoms have resolved. If you have a medical reason for waiting to receive your booster shot, please submit a temporary medical exemption request form. If you have a religious reason for not receiving your booster shot, please submit a religious exemption request form.
How do I schedule my COVID-19 booster appointment and where do I submit my vaccine information?
You can find and schedule your COVID-19 booster appointment at a location near you. If you receive your booster dose in New York State, the Weigel Health Center should automatically have your vaccine information on file via the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS), so you do not need to contact the Weigel Health Center. If you receive your booster dose outside of New York State, please submit your booster information to the Weigel Health Center. If the Weigel Health Center is unable to obtain your information from NYSIIS, you will be contacted to provide verification.
Can I request an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine?
If you were approved for a limited religious or medical COVID-19 vaccination exemption for the fall 2021 semester, that exemption will carry over to the spring 2022 semester. If you are a new student seeking a limited medical, religious, or temporary remote-learning exemption for the spring semester, please review the Weigel Health Center website for more information.
Will I need to complete COVID-19 testing when I arrive to campus and throughout the spring semester?
Yes. More information will be shared in the coming days about what COVID-19 testing you will be required to complete upon your arrival to campus and regularly throughout the spring semester.
Let’s all do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Stay well Bengals.
Timothy W. Gordon, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
SUNY Buffalo State College
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