Vaccination Frequently Asked Questions

Are students required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend Binghamton University? (Updated Sept. 8, 2021)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that students at SUNY and CUNY colleges and universities will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before arriving on campus this fall. This requirement applies to you if you are enrolled in at least one in-person class or visit campus for any reason, including to conduct research; work on campus; participate in athletic practices; or visit the library, academic buildings or other campus facilities.

This requirement was contingent upon final approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the COVID-19 vaccines, which was granted Monday, Aug. 23, for the Pfizer vaccine, setting in motion the timeline for Binghamton University’s non-vaccinated, non-exempted students to become vaccinated or be disenrolled from classes.

Binghamton University will implement this requirement as follows:

All non-vaccinated students who have not received a medical or religious exemption will be given 35 days from Aug. 24 to upload documentation that they have received a full COVID-19 vaccine series to the student health portal.
Students who have not demonstrated proof of a completed COVID-19 vaccination series by Sept. 28 will be disenrolled from their courses and the University will follow its standard tuition refund schedule. This timeline will allow students to select the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine at their discretion and still complete the vaccine series by the deadline.
Students who have completed their vaccine series by the 35-day deadline but who are not yet fully vaccinated on Sept. 28 will be able to maintain registration but will be subject to campus guidelines for unvaccinated students until 14 days after their final dose of a vaccine series when they are considered fully vaccinated.
The original deadline to request a medical or religious exemption was July 23. However, there was an open 10-day period for anyone who missed the original deadline. From Aug. 24 through Sept. 3, students could apply for either exemption by uploading their request to the student health portal
- For religious exemptions, regardless of the process used, students will be notified of the status of their request through their BMail account from the fall2021@binghamton.edu address.

The exemption request instructions can be found on the Decker Student Health Services website COVID-19 page.

This plan enables the University to protect the health and safety of the entire campus community and also fulfills the SUNY system vaccination policy.

What happens to non-vaccinated students when the FDA approves a COVID vaccine? (Updated Sept. 8, 2021)

Binghamton University’s fall 2021 guidance indicates that the campus will require all students who have not received a medical or religious exemption to become vaccinated at the earliest opportunity after this approval. Binghamton will implement this requirement as follows:

All non-vaccinated students who have not received a medical or religious exemption will be given 35 days from Aug. 24 to upload documentation that they have received a full COVID-19 vaccine series to the student health portal.
Students who have not demonstrated proof of a completed COVID-19 vaccination series by Sept. 28 will be disenrolled from their courses and the University will follow its standard tuition refund schedule. This timeline will allow students to select the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine at their discretion and still complete the vaccine series by the deadline.
Students who have completed their vaccine series by the 35-day deadline but who are not yet fully vaccinated on Sept. 28 will be able to maintain registration but will be subject to campus guidelines for unvaccinated students until 14 days after their final dose of a vaccine series when they are considered fully vaccinated.
The original deadline to request a medical or religious exemption was July 23. However, there was an open 10-day period for anyone who missed the original deadline. From Aug. 24 through Sept. 3, students could apply for either exemption by uploading their request to the student health portal.

The exemption request instructions can be found on the Decker Student Health Services COVID-19 page

This plan enables the University to protect the health and safety of the entire campus community and also fulfills the SUNY system vaccination policy for all campuses.

Am I required to be vaccinated to live on campus? (Updated Aug. 23, 2021)

Yes. All students must be vaccinated to live on campus, and to attend classes.

Can a student receive an exemption from being vaccinated? (Updated Sept. 8, 2021)

The original deadline to request a medical or religious exemption was July 23. However, there was an open 10-day period for anyone who missed the original deadline. From Aug. 24 through Sept. 3, students could apply for either exemption by uploading their request to the student health portal. The exemption request instructions can be found on the Decker Student Health Services COVID-19 page.

For religious exemptions, regardless of the process used, students were notified of the status of their request through their BMail account from the fall2021@binghamton.edu address.

I had COVID-19 within the past 90 days. Can I get vaccinated?

Current CDC guidelines state that individuals should receive a COVID-19 vaccine regardless of whether they have had COVID-19 because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Studies have shown that vaccination provides a strong boost in protection in people who have recovered from COVID-19.

I had COVID-19 and wish to apply for a medical exemption. Will my exemption request be approved? (Updated Sept. 8, 2021)

The original deadline to request a medical or religious exemption was July 23. However, there was an open 10-day period for anyone who missed the original deadline. From Aug. 24 through Sept. 3, students could apply for either exemption by uploading their request to the student health portal. The exemption request instructions can be found on the Decker Student Health Services COVID-19 page.

For religious exemptions, regardless of the process used, students will be notified of the status of their request through their BMail account from the fall2021@binghamton.edu address.

What are my obligations if I am exempted from vaccination? (Updated Aug. 16, 2021)

Students who are granted an exemption from the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine requirement are subject to special obligations to enable them to remain on campus. Such students are required to:

Provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the student’s move-in date.
Comply with mandatory COVID-19 surveillance testing at least once a week.
Wear a mask at all times when indoors except:

when the student is in their private residential or personal space;
when they are eating meals on campus while seated and social distancing is appropriately enforced; and
when the student is alone.

If I am exempted from vaccination, can I stay in my assigned on-campus housing or do I have to be moved? (Updated Aug. 4, 2021)

Binghamton University reserves the right to reassign exempted unvaccinated students from their current housing assignment to avoid placing a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated students in the same room or suite. If possible, reassigned students would be assigned to space in the same residential community as their current assignment; however, this may not always be possible given that the campus is expected to be at full residential occupancy. An exempted student reassigned to a different residential community and/or room type will be charged the lower of the two housing rates between the two assignments.

However, unvaccinated individuals with an approved exemption from the vaccination requirement may request to remain in their assigned housing and share a room with their roommates and/or suitemates by gaining written consent from all roommates/suitemates. Unvaccinated students must initiate the process by disclosing their vaccination exemption status to their roommates/suitemates. Once written consent has been acquired in writing from all parties, they should provide these to Residential Life at reslife@binghamton.edu within five business days of notification that their exemption has been approved.

What happens to my on-campus housing if I do not want to be vaccinated and am not exempted?

Students unwilling to comply with the vaccination requirement for on-campus housing were required to petition to cancel housing on or before July 23, 2021. Students who petition for medical or religious exemption who are denied such exemption must request housing cancellation within three business days of notification that their exemption has been denied. Students who fail to meet these deadlines will be subject to housing charges for the fall 2021 semester but are only permitted to occupy their space if they are fully vaccinated prior to occupancy.

What are the surveillance testing requirements for those not vaccinated, partially vaccinated or exempted? (New Aug. 25, 2021)

Binghamton University is requiring all individuals who are not fully vaccinated to undergo weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing at the University Surveillance Testing Center. Below is information specific to students subject to the surveillance testing requirement. Human Resources will provide information to University staff subject to weekly surveillance testing. Students should pay close attention to the consequences for missing a required test as explained below. COVID-19 testing requirements will be strictly enforced.

1. Students who are not fully vaccinated and students who have or may obtain medical/religious exemptions from the vaccination requirement must be tested for COVID-19 weekly at the Surveillance Testing Center in the University Union.

2. Each week a message with a link to make an appointment will be sent to all those subject to such testing. Testing is by appointment only and walk-in testing is no longer available. It is your responsibility to make an appointment and to arrive for testing at the time of your appointment.

3. Students who are not tested as required will face the following consequences:

a. First missed test: A warning message from the Surveillance Testing Center.

b. Second missed test: Students who miss a test after receiving a warning message will have a HOLD placed on their registration; however, the impact of the HOLD on the student’s registration will be held in abeyance unless the student misses another test in the same semester.

c. Third missed test: Students who miss a third required COVID-19 test in the same semester will have the registration HOLD activated and will be dropped from their courses. Students not enrolled are also not eligible to live in campus residence halls.

4. Students who are dropped from their classes as a result of this policy will have one opportunity to appeal their removal from courses. The ONLY basis for such appeal will be that the University testing records are inaccurate and the student has not missed three tests. The University will not otherwise reconsider the imposition of this policy upon a student who has missed three tests in the same semester.

5. Students who are under quarantine order are not required to break quarantine to be tested; however, it is any such student’s responsibility to request an exemption from weekly testing when they are under quarantine order by using this link: https://cglink.me/2eQ/s52397. Copies of quarantine orders will be required.

6. Students may not use a home test to satisfy the requirement for weekly COVID-19 testing.

7. Students who begin the semester unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated but who become fully vaccinated during the semester are subject to the weekly testing requirement and associated penalties for non-compliance until the date upon which they are fully vaccinated (14-days after last shot).

8. Vaccinated students may receive an infrequent notice to schedule a testing appointment. The University is testing a certain number of vaccinated students each week to help monitor the prevalence of the virus among vaccinated members of our community.

Where can I get vaccinated locally? (New Aug. 24, 2021)

Here are some options with appointments available as early as today:

Find COVID-19 Vaccines Near You is a website where you can enter your zip code and you will be provided a list of all local vaccine sites.
Weis Markets has four clinics offering COVID-19 vaccines. Visit its website to find a location and schedule an appointment.
UHS, directly across the street from the Vestal campus: Visit its website to find a location and schedule an appointment.
CVS: There are multiple sites near campus that offer on-demand COVID-19 vaccines. Visit its webite to find CVS vaccine sites near you and to schedule an appointment.
Walgreens: There are multiple sites near campus that offer on-demand COVID-19 vaccines. Visit its website to find a site near you and schedule an appointment.
Walmart at 2405 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal, with bus routes available from campus: Visit its website to create an account and schedule an appointment.
Broome County Health Department at 225 Front St., Binghamton offers vaccine clinics and will even come to your group of 10 or more to deliver vaccines: Visit its website to have an appointment scheduled.

Testing for COVID-19 is widely available throughout New York state. Individuals who have questions about COVID-19 testing should call the New York State COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 or visit the NYSDOH website.

I cannot become fully vaccinated before I arrive on campus. Am I still allowed to move in? (Updated Aug. 16, 2021)

For the fall 2021 semester, a student must have completed all shots of a WHO-approved vaccination series to move into their residence hall. Students who have completed all shots of a vaccination series but have not finished their 14-day waiting period may move into their fall room assignment, but will be required to wear a mask and participate in weekly surveillance testing until the 14-day waiting period has been completed.

If a student is not fully vaccinated before moving in, how will it affect their housing status? (Updated Aug. 16, 2021)

The student can attend classes, but must wear a mask, get take-out food in the dining halls and participate in weekly surveillance testing until 14 days after their single-dose vaccine or 14 days after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine. The student will not be able to occupy the assigned room until they have received all shots in a vaccination series. Residential Life will hold the student’s room assignment until the student can occupy the room.

The University can extend the option to live in the interim period in an adjacent hotel at the student's expense at a University negotiated rate. There is a remote possibility that the University will be able to offer space in a residence hall apartment being set aside for special needs, but we have a limited supply of such space and until we know more about possible demand, we cannot commit that space to anyone yet.

How long does it take to be considered fully vaccinated?

It depends on the vaccine, but generally speaking:

Johnson & Johnson vaccine: 14 days after receiving your dose
Pfizer-BioNTech: around 35 days after receiving your first dose (assuming the second dose is 21 days after your first dose, plus the 14 days after receiving your second dose)
Moderna: around 42 days after receiving your first dose (assuming your second dose is 28 days after your first dose, plus the 14 days after receiving your second dose)

If a student has started a non-WHO approved vaccine series, they must wait 28 days from their last vaccine to begin a vaccine series in the U.S.

What should I do if I received a COVID vaccine but the dosing intervals are outside of what is recommended (the dose was given too early or too late)? (New July 17, 2021)

While this is not an ideal situation, the CDC guidance states that you do not need to repeat any vaccine doses or start the series over. You are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose is received. See Appendix A on this CDC webpage.

I received a “mixed series” of COVID-19 vaccines (the vaccine type for my first dose is different than the vaccine type I received for the second dose.) What should I do? (New July 17, 2021)

If the mixed series was of the Pfizer and Moderna types, and the doses were more than 28 days apart, then you are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose was given. If the mixed series contains even one dose of a vaccine that is not World Health Organization (WHO)-approved, then you should receive a complete series of COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the FDA when you arrive in the U.S.

What are the vaccination requirements for off-campus students? (Updated Sept. 8, 2021)

All Binghamton students who access campus facilities in person are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccination beginning before the start of the fall 2021 term, with limited exceptions. This requirement was contingent upon final approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the COVID-19 vaccines, which was granted Monday, Aug. 23,

All students are advised that Binghamton will require full compliance with this general policy requiring student vaccinations at the earliest possible date following full FDA approval (Sept. 28). The following guidelines shall apply to all off-campus students having any on-campus presence.

Students are strongly encouraged to submit proof of vaccination in accordance with the Decker Student Health Services to the secure health services portal.

How does an off-campus student request a medical or religious exemption from vaccination? (Updated Sept. 8, 2021)

The original deadline to request a medical or religious exemption was July 23. However, there was an open 10-day period for anyone who missed the original deadline. From Aug. 24 through Sept. 3, students could apply for either exemption by uploading their request to the student health portal. The exemption request instructions can be found on the Decker Student Health Services COVID-19 page.

For religious exemptions, regardless of the process used, students will be notified of the status of their request through their BMail account from the fall2021@binghamton.edu address.

Did Binghamton University send me text messages about my proof of vaccination?

Yes, Binghamton University has sent text messages asking students to upload their proof of vaccination to the Decker Student Health Services secure portal.

Frequently Asked Questions about vaccinations

International students