Vaccination Frequently Asked Questions

All students who have a physical presence on campus are required to complete a primary series of COVID-19 vaccines (fully vaccinated*). For domestic students, this means completing a series of FDA-approved or authorized vaccines at least two weeks prior to the start of classes. International students must complete a primary series that is FDA-approved or authorized, or one that is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

  • Do I have to receive a booster?

    SUNY has removed the requirement for students to have received a booster. However, the University strongly recommends that students receive booster shots when eligible because they help the student and the community raise the level of protection against the COVID virus.

  • Can a student receive an exemption from being vaccinated?

    Students may apply for a medical or religious exemption by following the instructions on the exemptions webpage of the Decker Student Health Services Center website.

  • How long does it take to be considered fully vaccinated?

    It depends on the vaccine, but generally speaking:

    Johnson & Johnson vaccine:

    • Day 0: Dose
    • Day 14: Fully vaccinated (14 days after the dose)

    Pfizer-BioNTech — the minimal intervals are:

    • Day 0: First dose
    • Day 21: Second dose
    • Day 35: Fully vaccinated (14 days after second dose)

    Moderna — the minimal intervals are:

    • Day 0: First dose
    • Day 28: Second dose
    • Day 42: Fully vaccinated (14 days after the second dose)
  • How can I request proof of my COVID-19 vaccine record from DSHSC?

    You can access this information by signing into the DSHSC patient portal. 

    To view the document you uploaded as proof of vaccination:

    1. Go to https://binghamton.medicatconnect.com/
    2. Indicate you are from Binghamton University.
    3. Sign in using your Binghamton University username and password.
    4. Go to the UPLOADS tab.  
    5. Scroll down to the "Documents already on file" section.
    6. Click "view file" of the appropriate document.
    7. Print.

    To view your immunization record, click on "Immunizations," then "View History."

  • What do I do if I've lost or don't have my vaccination record card?

    At your first vaccination appointment, you should get a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card that tells you what COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it and where you received it. If you did not receive a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card at your first appointment or have lost the card, contact the vaccination provider site where you got your first shot to find out how you can get a card.

    • If you cannot contact your vaccination provider site directly, contact your state health department’s immunization information system (IIS). Many vaccination providers are required to report COVID-19 vaccinations to their IIS and related systems.
    • If you enrolled in v-safe or VaxText after your first vaccine dose, you can access your vaccination information using those tools.
    • If you have made every effort to locate your vaccination information, are unable to get a copy or replacement of your vaccination card, and need another COVID-19 vaccine dose, talk to a vaccination provider or your primary care provider for assistance.

    See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for more. 

International students

On Oct. 25, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order limiting entry into the United States for non-U.S. citizens who are seeking to enter the United States by air travel and who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In order to be considered fully vaccinated, individuals must have received an accepted COVID-19 vaccine, with limited exceptions.

For the purposes of this guidance, individuals are considered:

  • fully vaccinated if they have completed all shots of a WHO-approved vaccination series AND the 14-day waiting period. 
  • not vaccinated if they have not completed any shots, have completed one of two shots in a vaccination series, have completed a vaccination series but not the 14-day waiting period, or have been vaccinated with a vaccine that is not WHO-approved.