Vaccine Availability
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two COVID-19 vaccines and authorized two vaccines for emergency use.
Students, faculty and staff members can receive a COVID-19 vaccine on Main Campus at the Main Campus Pharmacy and on Health Science Campus at the outpatient pharmacy in the UTMC Medical Pavilion.
For more information, call the Main Campus pharmacy at 419.530.3471 or the UTMC outpatient pharmacy at 419.383.3750.
All UToledo students and employees, including those working on campus and working remotely, are required to be vaccinated or have an approved exemption.
UTMC also is pleased to be one of Ohio’s public COVID-19 vaccination locations, offering vaccinations to eligible populations as determined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Health.
Individuals age 12 and older can receive the initial course or booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine from 8 a.m. to noon at the outpatient pharmacy in the UTMC Medical Pavilion. Appointments are available through the Ohio Department of Health’s scheduling portal.
Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccination Program
Booster Doses
The CDC recommends that everyone 5 and older should receive a booster shot once eligible.
Individuals who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible for a booster two months after receiving their initial shot.
Those who received a two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine are eligible for a booster five months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series.
Individuals may choose to receive any of the three COVID-19 vaccines that are approved or authorized for emergency use, though the CDC says the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are preferred in most situations.
Everyone 50 and older is eligible to get a second booster at least four months after their first booster. Individuals age 12 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised also are eligible for a second booster.
Those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for both their primary dose and booster are eligible for a second booster four months after their first booster shot.
All second booster shots must be Pfizer or Moderna.
The University is strongly encouraging all members of the campus community to receive COVID-19 booster shots when eligible. Booster doses are available for faculty, staff and students at both on-campus distribution sites.
Appointments can be made via the Ohio Department of Health’s vaccine scheduling portal.
Individuals should bring their vaccination card to their appointment.
Vaccine Safety and Efficacy
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for those age 12 and older. The FDA has granted full approval to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for those age 18 and older.
Following a review for safety and effectiveness, the FDA has authorized the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use in those age 6 months to 11 years and the Moderna vaccine in those age 6 months to 17 years.
The FDA also has authorized the Novavax vaccine for emergency use in those age 12 and older and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for emergency use in those age 18 and older.
In early May 2022, the FDA narrowed its authorized use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to those who cannot receive a different vaccine for medical reasons or who specifically request the one-dose vaccine.
Resources
FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine
FDA: Emergency Use Authorization Explained
UToledo Town Hall: COVID-19 Update and Vaccine Information
COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement
FEDERAL VACCINE MANDATES
A rule from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires all hospital staff at healthcare settings receiving CMS funding to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This includes employees, students and trainees.
The federal rule does not permit philosophical exemptions.
Because of this federal requirement, the University previously announced it would no longer be permitted to allow philosophical exemptions for any UToledo employees or student learners in healthcare settings. Exemptions for religious or medical reasons would still be permitted.
In Ohio, individuals subject to the CMS rule were required to receive a first vaccine dose by Feb. 14 and be fully vaccinated by March 15.
A separate federal mandate that would require employees at entities holding contracts with the federal government to be fully vaccinated is temporarily on hold as it is challenged in federal court.
In the interim while this case moves through the legal process, the University will temporarily continue to recognize existing philosophical exemptions for the University’s vaccine requirement for all non-clinical employees and students.
The University will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure it is in full compliance with all applicable federal deadlines, rules and regulations.
UNIVERSITY VACCINE REQUIREMENT
The University of Toledo announced on Sept. 1, 2021, a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for students and employees to promote and protect the health and safety of our campus.
The University took this important step to help maintain a safe learning environment for our students and a safe working environment for our employees. The University’s decision was in response to the rising prevalence of the Delta variant causing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in our community and an available vaccine receiving full U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The available vaccines are safe and effective and are our best defense against COVID-19.
All UToledo students and employees at the time were required to be vaccinated or have an approved exemption by Nov. 15, 2021.
Students new to UToledo are required to be fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption within eight weeks of the first day of classes in their first semester.
Full vaccination is defined as having received all recommended doses in the primary COVID-19 vaccination series.
Students who are taking all online courses are only required to be vaccinated if they wish to participate in on-campus activities.
With every member of our campus community reporting their vaccination status by uploading proof of vaccination or receiving an approved exemption, the University will have accurate data on the vaccination rate of our campus community to inform our public health practices to keep our campus safe.
EXEMPTIONS
Under certain circumstances and on a case-by-case basis, individuals may be granted an exemption from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Any employee or student may request exemptions for medical or religious reasons.
Philosophical exemptions remain available for non-clinical employees and students because they are not subject to the more stringent CMS requirements.
Exemption request forms can be downloaded and submitted through the University’s secure vaccine registry portal.
NONCOMPLIANCE
UToledo will follow the guidance from the federal government on the COVID-19 vaccine requirements, including consequences that would be required for noncompliance. Employees who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and who do not have a valid exemption may be subject to disciplinary and/or corrective action procedures.
VACCINE AVAILABILITY
Students, faculty and staff members can receive a COVID-19 vaccine on Main Campus at the Main Campus Pharmacy and on Health Science Campus at the outpatient pharmacy in the UTMC Medical Pavilion.
For more information, call the Main Campus pharmacy at 419.530.3471 or the UTMC outpatient pharmacy at 419.383.3750.
There are also many locations in Ohio that offer the vaccination. Use the Ohio Department of Health’s online tool to find a location convenient for you.
VACCINE VERIFICATION
Proof of the COVID-19 vaccination or an approved medical or religious/philosophical exemption must be provided. Once you have received all required doses of your selected vaccine, you must upload your proof of full vaccination to the secure UToledo vaccine registry. If you have already uploaded your proof of vaccination, you will not need to do this again.
ACCEPTED COVID-19 VACCINES*
COVID-19 vaccines that will be accepted to meet the requirement are:
Full U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval
- Pfizer-BioNTech (two doses, administered three weeks apart)
- Moderna (two doses, administered four weeks apart)
FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)
World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL)
- AstraZeneca
- Sinovac
For the status of COVID-19 vaccines included on the WHO EUL, visit the WHO COVID-19 Vaccines website.
*Last updated Aug. 22, 2022. If you have received a vaccine not on the approved list
of acceptable vaccines, please contact the UToledo pharmacy to discuss further options.
Frequently asked questions
Who Does The COVID-19 Requirement Apply To?
All UToledo students, faculty and staff.
Which COVID-19 Vaccines Qualify to Meet This Requirement?
A COVID-19 vaccine will qualify under this requirement if the vaccine has:
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) full approval or Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)
- World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL)
The four vaccines with FDA approval or EUA available in the United States are:
- Pfizer-BioNTech (Full FDA approval for individuals 12 years and older; EUA for individuals age 6 months to 11 years)
- Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (EUA for individuals 18 years and older)
- Moderna (Full FDA approval for individuals 18 years and older; EUA for individuals age 6 months to 17 years)
- Novavax (EUA for individuals 12 and older)
For the status of COVID-19 vaccines included in the WHO EUL, please see the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 vaccine website.
Where Can I Get a COVID-19 Vaccine?
Students, faculty and staff members can receive a COVID-19 vaccine on Main Campus at the Main Campus Pharmacy and on Health Science Campus at the outpatient pharmacy in the UTMC Medical Pavilion.
For more information, call the Main Campus pharmacy at 419.530.3471 or the UTMC outpatient pharmacy at 419.383.3750.
There also are many locations in Ohio that offer the vaccination, and a list of these sites can be found using the Ohio Department of Health’s online tool.
Will There Be a Requirement to Get a Booster Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine?
We will follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance related to the need for a booster or annual dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
While booster doses are strongly encouraged for all eligible faculty, staff and students, they are not currently included as part of the University’s vaccine requirement
However, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services does require healthcare facilities receiving CMS funding to have a process for tracking booster shots among their employees, students and trainees.
Employees and clinical learners at The University of Toledo Medical Center and other University-affiliated clinical sites who have received a booster shot should upload documentation through the University’s vaccine registry portalby Monday, Feb. 14.
How Do I Submit My Vaccination Records?
Once you have received all the required doses of your selected vaccine, you must upload your proof of full vaccination to the secure UToledo vaccine registry. If you have lost or misplaced your vaccination card, contact your vaccination provider to request replacement records. If you received your vaccine through UTMC, you can call 419.383.3668 for assistance.
How Do I Get an Exemption From the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement?
The University does allow for a limited set of exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Any request for an exemption will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and there is no guarantee that a request for exemption will be approved. Requests for exemptions need to be submitted to utvaccinereg.utoledo.edu.
What Religious/Philosophical or Medical Exemptions Are Considered Under This Requirement?
- Medical Exemption: An exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement due to medical reasons requires a written statement from a qualified licensed healthcare provider (M.D., D.O., N.P., or P.A.) that the COVID-19 vaccine is contraindicated for the individual and can potentially be harmful due to medical conditions that might lead to a bad reaction from the vaccine.
- Religious Exemption: An exemption due to an individual’s sincerely held religious beliefs requires a signed document stating the employee declines the vaccine due to religious beliefs and/or practices that conflict with the vaccine requirement.
- Philosophical Exemption: An exemption due to an individual’s sincerely held philosophical beliefs requires a signed document stating the student declines the vaccine due to reasons of conscience by the individual (or parent/guardian). Philosophical exemptions are available only for students and employees who are not in a clinical setting and, therefore not subject to the more stringent CMS requirements.
What Factors Qualify For A Covid-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption?
An individual can request a medical exemption if they have a documented allergic reaction to an ingredient in the COVID-19 vaccine with appropriate documentation from their healthcare provider.
- Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is an ingredient in the mRNA of COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) and an individual with a documented PEG allergy should not receive an mRNA vaccine.
- Polysorbate is an ingredient in the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine, and an individual with a documented polysorbate allergy should not receive a Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine.
Those with a history of allergic reactions to other vaccines or other medical injections will be considered for a medical exemption on a case-by-case basis, and will be determined based on appropriate information/documentation provided by their healthcare provider.
What Factors Typically Do Not Qualify for a COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption?
A history of vaccine side effects over the 24-72 hours after receiving a non-COVID-19 vaccine, such as a low-grade fever, chills, headache or body aches, will not be considered for a medical exemption.
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that individuals with allergies to foods, oral medications, animals/pets, venom, latex or other environmental allergens get vaccinated against COVID-19. A history of these types of allergies will not be considered for a medical exemption.
- Other examples of conditions that are not eligible for a medical exemption include:
- A history of COVID-19 infection.
- A history of receiving monoclonal antibody infusion for COVID-19 prior to 90 days before the deadline.
- Presence of a positive COVID-19 antibody on a blood test.
- A history of immune-compromising conditions in which vaccines may be less effective in some patients.
How Do I Submit My Request for Exemption From the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement?
Exemption request forms can be downloaded and submitted through the University’s secure vaccine registryportal.
Individuals requesting an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement will receive an email confirming the status of their request.
What If I Do Not Get Either a COVID-19 Vaccine or an Approved Exemption by the Deadline?
UToledo will follow the guidance from the federal government on the COVID-19 vaccine requirements, including consequences that would be required for noncompliance. Employees who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and who do not have a valid exemption may be subject to disciplinary and/or corrective action procedures.
I Am Working Remotely. Does This Recommendation Apply to Me?
Yes, the University's COVID-19 vaccine requirement applies to all faculty and staff who are working on campus and remotely. Students who are taking all online courses are only required to be vaccinated if they wish to participate in on-campus activities.
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