Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and the UB community. This page contains important information about the university's vaccination requirements and protocols.
All UB students are required to have completed their primary COVID-19 vaccination series to attend classes in-person, according to a mandate from the state.
Get up to date. CDC defines “up to date,” as having received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters when eligible. The CDC defines the phrase “fully vaccinated" as having received the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
All UB students who live on campus or who come to campus for classes or activities are required to complete their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and are strongly encouraged to get boosters when eligible, in accordance with SUNY guidelines.
The recommendations for people vaccinated outside of the United States depend on the vaccine(s) received for the primary vaccination series, whether the primary series was completed, and whether a booster dose was received.
Students may qualify for an exemption due to medical reasons or religious beliefs, or if they are learning fully remotely.
Students who have not yet complied have a Missing COVID-19 Vaccine Proof hold on their HUB Student Center account.
If you have already uploaded your proof of vaccination, it may take 5-7 business days to verify your information. Once verified, the hold in HUB will be released. Please review your HUB Student Center holds to determine your current compliance status.
All UB students who live on campus or who come to campus for classes or activities are required to complete their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and are strongly encouraged to get boosters when eligible, in accordance with SUNY guidelines.
The recommendations for people vaccinated outside of the United States depend on the vaccine(s) received for the primary vaccination series, whether the primary series was completed, and whether a booster dose was received.
UB’s vaccination mandate is a strict policy with serious repercussions and was put in place to protect the health and safety of our campus community. Vaccines are shown to be safe and effective.
FULLY REMOTE CLASSES
In order to continue to participate in fully remote classes for spring 2022, you must submit a fully remote exemption form. Students who receive a fully remote exemption are not permitted to have a physical presence at any SUNY facility, including for the purpose of using on-campus services, for the duration of the semester.
The Excelsior Pass is not sufficient proof of vaccination.
Proof of vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is defined as the following:
It is imperative that you get up to date as soon as medically eligible. Vaccines are shown to be safe and effective. They are free of charge and readily available. Full approval of several vaccines has been granted by the FDA.
COVID-19 vaccinations are available for free in the local community. For information on locations, hours, vaccine offered, and other details use www.vaccinehound.org.
Current scientific evidence suggests that vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission, and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. Scientists are currently investigating Omicron, including how protected people who are up to date with their vaccinations will be against infection, hospitalization, and death.
Updated July 5, 2022
We don’t know yet how long COVID-19 vaccine protection lasts. Recent studies show that protection against the virus may decrease over time. This reduction in protection has led CDC to recommend that everyone ages 16 years and older get a booster shot after completing their primary vaccination series.
Updated December 16, 2021
Immunity conferred by infection is much more variable than that conferred by vaccination, particularly if your infection was asymptomatic or mild. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again.
It has also become clear that if you were previously infected and then get vaccinated you will have a tremendous immune response that is predicted to be highly protective and long-lasting.
Updated July 16, 2021
Most adverse effects due to vaccination will occur within the first one to two months. There are no historical examples of vaccinations causing an adverse event outside of that timeframe. However, even if at some point down the line, an uncommon, long-term consequence from the COVID-19 vaccine is identified, the long-term consequences of COVID-19 will still be exponentially greater than any from vaccination.
Updated July 16, 2021
The vaccines were tested in 40,000 people and now more than 400 million doses have been given. Emergency use authorization (EUA) of the vaccines does not equate to being experimental. EUA status was obtained after two months of safety data; full licensure requires six months of safety data.
After 400 million doses have been administered, the safety profile of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines look very good. It’s important to note that both Pfizer and Moderna are now applying for full licensure and it is fully expected that both of these will receive it.
Updated July 16, 2021
There is absolutely no evidence that the vaccines cause infertility or get into your DNA. These fears are propagated on social media, which is not a reliable source of information on vaccines or COVID-19. Instead, rely on trusted sources: Erie County, New York State, the CDC, or alternatively, an individual you trust. It could be a primary care physician or a pastor but it’s critical that the trusted individual be someone who gives you reliable information.
Updated July 16, 2021
If you are immunocompromised, it’s best to talk to your health care provider because not all immune-compromising conditions are equal. Immunocompromised individuals should definitely get vaccinated, but they also should take precautions in high-risk settings, such as indoors, where there may be people who are unvaccinated.
Updated July 5, 2022
UB strongly supports New York State’s vaccination program and the need for members of the university and Western New York community to get vaccinated in order to protect our region against COVID-19.
See the CDC's Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines for additional information.
Updated July 26, 2021
For the latest information, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html.
Updated December 10, 2021
Students who completed a WHO-EUL COVID-19 vaccine series, and then got a WHO-EUL vaccine as a booster should not repeat the booster dose according to the CDC.
Updated April 20, 2022
At your first vaccination appointment, you should have received a COVID-19 vaccination record card that tells you what vaccine you received, the date you received it, and where you received it. Bring this vaccination card and a government-issued photo ID to your booster shot vaccination appointment.
For more information, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html.
Updated October 22, 2021
All UB students who live on campus or who come to campus for classes or activities are required to complete their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and are strongly encouraged to get boosters when eligible, in accordance with SUNY guidelines.
The recommendations for people vaccinated outside of the United States depend on the vaccine(s) received for the primary vaccination series, whether the primary series was completed, and whether a booster dose was received.
Updated July 1, 2022
Updated January 7, 2022
COVID-19 vaccinations are available for free in the local community. For information on locations, hours, vaccine offered, and other details use www.vaccinehound.org.
New York State closed its COVID-19 vaccination clinic on South Campus on June 30. As now, there are no plans to reopen it.
Updated June 30, 2022
Yes, booster doses are free and available statewide at pharmacies, local health departments, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other locations across New York State. Visit vaccines.gov or text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
Updated October 22, 2021
Available data right now show that all three of the COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the U.S. continue to be effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating delta variant. However, by getting a booster shot, you will decrease the likelihood that you'll get infected and protect others as well, particularly those that are more vulnerable and more likely than you for developing serious disease. This includes the unvaccinated, the immunocompromised and older adults.
Updated October 22, 2021
COVID-19 vaccinations are available for free in the local community. For information on locations, hours, vaccine offered, and other details use www.vaccinehound.org.
Updated July 1, 2022
COVID-19 vaccinations are available for free in the local community. For information on locations, hours, vaccine offered, and other details use www.vaccinehound.org.
Updated July 1, 2022
If you have a cough or a cold, you should wear a mask, and always stay home whenever you aren’t feeling well. Even if you feel fine, you might give it to someone who does not feel fine.
Also, share your vaccine experience with family members and friends who remain unvaccinated. Hearing about your experience with vaccination may help them overcome their hesitancy to get vaccinated.
The overall safety of our community is directly related to the number of people vaccinated.
Masks are optional on UB’s campuses in most settings:
Remember: There are many reasons that individuals may continue to wear a mask, including those who are:
Please be kind and respectful toward others in our UB community.
Faculty and academic support staff, see Guidance for faculty and academic support staff.
Updated July 5, 2022
Masks are optional on UB’s campuses in most settings:
Remember: There are many reasons that individuals may continue to wear a mask, including those who are:
Please be kind and respectful toward others in our UB community.
Faculty and academic support staff, see Guidance for faculty and academic support staff.
Updated August 2, 2021
All UB students who live on campus or who come to campus for classes or activities are required to complete their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and are strongly encouraged to get boosters when eligible, in accordance with SUNY guidelines.
If you still intend to get vaccinated, we advise you to do so right away. Vaccines are shown to be safe and effective. They are free of charge and readily available. Full approval of the vaccine has been granted by the FDA, please make note of the urgency of the above timeframe and deadlines. More information about getting vaccinated is available on the COVID-19 immunization requirements page.
Updated July 1, 2022
All UB students who live on campus or who come to campus for classes or activities are required to complete their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and are strongly encouraged to get boosters when eligible, in accordance with SUNY guidelines.
Updated July 1, 2022
All UB students who live on campus or who come to campus for classes or activities are required to complete their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and are strongly encouraged to get boosters when eligible, in accordance with SUNY guidelines.
See Also
Updated July 1, 2022
When to Quarantine
Updated July 27, 2021
Updated July 1, 2022
All UB students who live on campus or who come to campus for classes or activities are required to complete their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and are strongly encouraged to get boosters when eligible, in accordance with SUNY guidelines.
Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission, and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and the UB community.
Updated July 1, 2022
SUNY recently introduced a system-wide solution for all campuses to track verified COVID-19 vaccination status of SUNY students. UB has made the decision as an institution to continue to use UB Health Services to collect this information. As a result, UB students should continue to only upload their COVID-19 vaccination records to UB Health Services at https://www.buffalo.edu/studentlife/life-on-campus/health/medical-care/results-and-records.html and do not need to log into nor provide their COVID-19 vaccine information to the SUNY Vaccine Management System.
While all SUNY campuses are required to utilize this system, in the case of UB, SUNY administration will utilize existing campus-level data to assist in populating the system-wide vaccination management system. UB will be sharing limited vaccination data with SUNY in order to calculate UB’s student vaccination rate.
Updated August 2, 2021
Updated July 28, 2021
The recommendations for people vaccinated outside of the United States depend on the vaccine(s) received for the primary vaccination series, whether the primary series was completed, and whether a booster dose was received.
Updated January 18, 2022
Vaccination documents should be submitted to UB in their original, official format along with a copy translated into English.
Updated July 28, 2021
The recommendations for people vaccinated outside of the United States depend on the vaccine(s) received for the primary vaccination series, whether the primary series was completed, and whether a booster dose was received.
Updated July 1, 2022
In this case, students will need to get vaccinated again, this time with a COVID vaccine authorized for use by the FDA.
Students should consult with a healthcare professional before beginning with a new series of the authorized vaccine.
For more information, see CDC: COVID-19 Vaccines for People Vaccinated Outside the United States
Updated July 1, 2022
The recommendations for people vaccinated outside of the United States depend on the vaccine(s) received for the primary vaccination series, whether the primary series was completed, and whether a booster dose was received.
Updated July 1, 2022
The recommendations for people vaccinated outside of the United States depend on the vaccine(s) received for the primary vaccination series, whether the primary series was completed, and whether a booster dose was received.
Updated July 1, 2022
Updated July 1, 2022