As you may have heard, Governor DeSantis has expanded vaccination eligibility and the University may vaccinate all Floridians with any COVID-19 vaccine as prescribed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Starting April 5th, Florida State University is pleased to expand COVID-19 vaccination appointments to students, faculty and staff.

At this time, the University is administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which is approved for use in individuals 16 years of age and older. Please note, minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in order to receive the vaccine.

By getting vaccinated next week, you have enough time to complete the two-shot series prior to the end of the semester. If you are unable to schedule an appointment for next week and are concerned about receiving your second dose, don’t worry, you can complete the vaccine series in your hometown or wherever you will be three or four weeks after your first dose.

A few important things to remember:

1. Save and protect your vaccine card. Take care of your vaccination record card by laminating and keeping it in a safe place. Remember to take a photo and save in your phone.
2. Scheduling 2nd dose of COVID-19 Vaccine. The most widely available vaccines require second doses to be administered at 3 weeks (Pfizer) or 4 weeks (Moderna). When registering for your vaccine appointment, you will be prompted to schedule your second dose at the same time. While it is important to get your second dose at the same site as your first, there is no problem completing the series in your hometown or wherever you will be three or four weeks after your first dose. You must receive the same brand for both doses. Vaccine type and supply may vary across different vaccination sites. You can find a site near you at https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/vaccines/vaccine-locator/.
3. Once fully vaccinated – can I go back to “normal”?  You are not considered “fully vaccinated” until two weeks after the 2nd dose to allow a full immune response. After that time, the CDC guidance allows for fully vaccinated people to:
   • Visit with other fully vaccinated people without wearing masks or distancing.
   • Refrain from quarantining and testing after close contacts or exposure – if you remain asymptomatic.
   • However, you should still wear masks in public, practice social distancing, avoid large gatherings, etc.
4. Will the vaccine be required? Although there is a precedent with other vaccines being required by many institutions, FSU will defer the decision to the SUS Board of Governors.

As a member of our community, we thank you for your commitment to upholding our shared standards and supporting a culture of care by working together to ensure we are promoting a healthier future.

As always, visit the vaccine.fsu.edu website for more information.