It is our expectation that students in the United States will be fully vaccinated and submit their proof as soon as possible before arrival to NYU. Below is guidance specifically for international students who do not have access to COVID-19 vaccines prior to arriving on campus.

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Stick it to COVID

Updated: February 10

What happens if I don’t have access to a COVID-19 booster vaccination in the country that I’m in?

  1. Upload your proof of primary vaccination. If you haven’t done so already, upload proof that you completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series (e.g., Pfizer, Moderna, WHO-listed vaccine) or single dose vaccination (i.e., Janssen) as soon as possible. 
  2. Make an appointment for your booster. Vaccine access is very good across the United States, and there are many places to get vaccinated.  You should find and make an appointment using the US or NYC vaccine finder before you leave your international location for when you arrive in the United States. Additionally, the Student Health Center has a vaccine clinic for students who were unable to access vaccines previously.
  3. Upload proof of your COVID-19 booster vaccination. Upload your proof of booster vaccination to the Student Health Center Portal as soon as possible. It can take up to 3 business days for vaccination records to be processed. Once your vaccine record is reviewed and approved, you will be able to access NYU buildings and NYU-sponsored activities (on or off-campus). Students who do not get their booster within the specified grace period will be deemed non-compliant with NYU’s COVID-19 immunization requirement.

Consequences for non-compliance

Failure to comply with NYU’s COVID-19 immunization requirement will result in consequences up to and including de-enrollment. 

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Can I get a booster shot in the United States if I was vaccinated outside of the United States?

Yes.  

If you have received a primary series of a WHO-listed vaccine not available in the United States, you are eligible to receive a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine only.

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What happens if I can’t comply with the federal requirement that all non-immigrant, non-citizen travelers to the United States must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination status?

There are two federal orders regarding vaccination and entry into the United States:

  • The CDC requires that you must be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine to travel to the United States by plane if you are a non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa). Only limited exceptions apply.
  • The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also requires individuals who are not U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents) entering the U.S. at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals to be fully vaccinated.
This vaccination mandate has been set by the United States government, and students who are unable to comply with it will not be permitted to enter the United States. If you have concerns about meeting this entry requirement, please make your academic advisor aware of your situation.

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What happens if I received the first 2 doses with two different types of vaccines for my COVID-19 primary vaccine series?

While the United States will accept 2 doses of any "mix-and-match" WHO-listed vaccine combination for non-Citizen and non-immigrant travelers to enter the United States, the CDC does not recommend the use of mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccine primary series.

Students’ documentation with mix-and-match vaccines for their primary series will not be accepted by NYU.  Students will need to get revaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine after you arrive at NYU.

Please note, the minimum interval between the last dose of a non-FDA authorized vaccine or a WHO-listed vaccine and an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine is 28 days. If possible you should plan to complete all doses of a non-authorized vaccine at least 28 days in advance of your arrival to NYU so that you can get re-vaccinated right away.

If your final dose is within 28 days of your arrival to NYU, please follow the instructions below to let us know of your status (you will not be able to submit your documentation through the regular vaccine upload portal).

Students: to request a temporary exemption for a non-FDA-authorized or WHO-listed vaccine within the 28 days prior to arrival, follow these steps:

  1. Login to the SHC Portal
  2. Click ‘Downloadable Forms’ on the left side bar
  3. Locate ‘Temporary Exemption Request for Students with Non-FDA/WHO Authorized Vaccines’ and click the green ‘Upload’ button to submit proof of your COVID vaccination.
  4. Confirm the file is correct and click ‘looks good’
  5. Click ‘Save’

You will be granted a temporary exemption until it is safe for you to get an NYU-accepted vaccine. You must get revaccinated between 29-34 days after your last dose. You must get any required follow-up doses and upload as soon as you become eligible.

Here are specific requirements:

  • Upload proof following special instructions. If your final dose less than 28 days prior to your arrival at NYU, please follow the steps above to let us know of your status (you will not be able to submit your documentation through the regular vaccine upload portal).
  • Make an appointment for your first dose of an FDA-authorized vaccine and upload proof. Once you become eligible for re-vaccination, you will have a 5 day grace period to get your first dose and upload proof of your first dose of Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This means, you must get re-vaccinated between 29-34 days after your last dose and upload proof.
    • If your partial compliance status expires before you arrive, you will be expected to begin re-vaccination upon arrival and upload proof of your first dose immediately.  You will be permitted in NYU buildings after you reach partial compliance vaccination status.
    • Students who do not begin re-vaccination within the specified grace period will be deemed non-compliant with NYU’s COVID-19 immunization requirement.
    • Vaccine access is very good across the United States, and there are many places to get vaccinated. You should find and make an appointment using the US or NYC vaccine finder before you leave your international location for when you arrive in the United States.  Additionally, the Student Health Center has a limited vaccine clinic.
  • Get your next dose and upload proof. Once you become eligible for your next dose, you will have a 7 day grace period to complete your COVID-19 vaccine series and upload proof of your next dose. This means you must get revaccinated and upload proof between. Students who do not complete their next dose within the specified grace period will be deemed non-compliant with NYU’s COVID-19 immunization requirement.

Consequences for non-compliance

Failure to comply with NYU’s COVID-19 immunization requirement will result in consequences up to and including de-enrollment. 

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