Vaccine

GW will require students, faculty, and staff who are in person this fall to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  

The following guidance will apply to this new requirement:

• Any vaccine authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO) will be accepted. This information may change as the FDA and WHO authorize (or approve) additional vaccines.
• Current students, faculty, and staff should upload their vaccination card to the medical portal.  Instructions for this process are available here.
• We will grant limited exemptions, such as for medical or religious reasons.  
• All GW community members who come to campus are required to be vaccinated.  
• We will exercise discretion in enforcing the mandate for those who have extenuating circumstances that are beyond their control and that will cause delays in vaccination.

More detailed information about the new requirement is available in our FAQs.
 

Vaccine Availability

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now available to GW students, faculty and staff and their family members at GW's Marvin Center (800 21st Street, NW, 3rd Floor Grand Ballroom). You do not need to be a District of Columbia resident to receive the vaccine. 

The vaccine is available to those ages 12 and older.  Appointments are not required.

Hours for GW community members:
Mondays and Wednesdays: 6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 6 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
the testing site is closed on Fridays through July 30

Non-GW community members can access the site beginning at 8:30 a.m.

We encourage our community members to get the vaccine in the jurisdiction where they live and work as soon as possible.  Information on additional vaccine distribution is below. 

Vaccine Documentation Verification

Members of the GW community may upload their COVID-19 vaccination records to the medical portal for verification by a medical provider. Only upload documentation after receiving full doses of the vaccine (for example, after two doses for Moderna and Pfizer and one for Johnson & Johnson). Once verified, fully vaccinated individuals may also be exempt from exposure and travel quarantines.

If you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, you should still continue following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others. Regardless of vaccination status, on-campus cohort members must continue required COVID-19 testing and symptom monitoring.

Instructions to Upload COVID-19 Vaccine Documentation: 

• Take a photo or scan your vaccination record, and keep a copy for your own records. 
• Log into the medical portal.
• Click on "Medical Clearances."  
• Look for "Add COVID Vaccine Record" and click "Update." 
• Click the "Upload" button to upload a copy or photo of your vaccination record. Please note that your record must be in JPEG format. PDFs cannot be uploaded.

The Colonial Health Center (students) or Occupational Health (faculty and staff) will review your vaccination record and add it to your medical record. This is a manual process and may take up to a week for your record to be updated. 

Exemption Requests

We will grant limited exemptions, such as for medical or religious reasons. Exemption requests were due on June 7, 2021.
 

• Faculty and staff who wish to request an exemption should complete the faculty and staff exemption form and submit it through the medical portal. Instructions for uploading the exemption form are as follows:
  • Log into the medical portal.
  • Click on "Messages" (left column).
  • Select "New Message." 
  • From the Communications Options available, choose "Occupational Health (Faculty/Staff Only) and click "Continue."
  • On the Message Form, provide the following information: 
    • Subject: COVID-19 Vaccine Exemption
    • Attachments: You must attach the completed COVID-19 exemption form and documentation to support an exempt status. 
  • Click "Send." Your documents have been submitted to the Occupational Health team. 
  • It may take several days to review your record. You will be notified by the team when your exemption status has been reviewed.
  • For questions, contact GW Occupational Health at 202-677-6230 or [email protected].

• Students seeking exemption from any of the immunization requirements for medical or religious reasons must follow the guidance below:
  • If you are seeking an exemption due to a good faith religious objection, you must submit a personal letter explaining how the vaccination violates your religious beliefs.
  • If you are seeking an exemption for medical reasons, a personal statement of need for a medical exemption, and a letter from the attending clinician may be required. 
  • Upload your documents to the medical portal.
  • For questions, please email the Colonial Health Center at [email protected].

Important Dates

Early Access to Campus

If you have not had campus access throughout the pandemic, you may be able to access campus early, if:

• You are fully vaccinated
• Your documentation has been verified
• You have completed your first COVID-19 test

Please confirm with your supervisor that you have their support to access campus and when it is appropriate to do so. 

To confirm that your verification is complete:

• Log into the medical portal.
• Under “Medical Clearances,” your status will be marked “Compliant” with a green check mark if your documentation has been verified and approved.
• Additionally, it must be two weeks following your second dose (or single dose if Johnson & Johnson) for you to be considered fully vaccinated.

You are required to participate in monthly COVID-19 testing through the GW Public Health Lab, and you will receive an email from the Campus COVID-19 Support Team (CCST) with additional information on testing. Appointments must be made through the medical portal.

COVID-19 testing is available at both the Foggy Bottom and the Virginia Science and Technology campuses. Summer 2021 hours of operation are available online.

Members of the current on-campus cohort may access campus as they normally would.
 

On-Campus Cohort Guidance
Regardless of vaccination status, on-campus cohort members must continue required COVID-19 testing and symptom monitoring. 

If you develop symptoms within 48 hours after receiving any dose of the vaccine, do not indicate them on your daily survey. Instead, students should contact the Colonial Health Center at 202-994-5300 and staff and faculty should contact Occupational Health at 202-677-6230 to review their status with a medical provider. 

Should symptoms continue or appear more than 48 hours after receiving any dose of the vaccine, indicate them on your daily survey. A medical provider will determine if you require additional testing.

Vaccine Research at GW

For more information about GW's vaccine research, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Trials at GW website.

#GWGetTheShot