Student FAQs: Vaccine and Testing Information

Last updated on 9/16/21

• Is the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for students?

  Yes, on Monday August 23, the Food and Drug Administration issued the approval of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine.  As previously communicated, given the vaccine approval, per New York State policy,    all SUNY students   who are enrolled in at least one in-person class OR use an in-person campus service or facility are now required to submit proof of their COVID vaccination.   The Stony Brook University deadline to submit proof of vaccination is Friday, September 24 to continue enrollment in in-person classes.   

  You can obtain the COVID vaccine at any off-campus provider, or for your convenience, you can obtain the COVID vaccine for free on campus.  For walk-in and appointment dates, times, and locations, please visit the  Student Health Services website.

• Where can I obtain a COVID-19 vaccine?
  • The COVID vaccine is now widely available at local pharmacies such as Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens, and Duane Reade.  
  • You can also go to a New York state-run site, including the R&D Park (listed as “SUNY Stony Brook”) located on Stony Brook Road.  For a listing of all state-run and other vaccination sites, click  HERE   .
  • We are offering the COVID vaccine for free on campus.  For walk-in and appointment dates, times, and locations, please visit the  Student Health Services website . 
• When should I get vaccinated and what does it mean to be fully vaccinated?

  Get vaccinated as soon as possible.  You must upload your proof of vaccination by September 24 to remain enrolled in your in-person fall classes and/or use an in-person campus service or facility. Stony Brook University’s deadline to submit proof is  Friday, September 24  .  You're considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your final dose. 

  Note these important dates to meet this deadline and remain enrolled in your fall in-person classes:

  • If you are planning to get the Moderna vaccine, you must receive your first dose by   August 27 .    The second dose must be completed 28 days later.
  • If you are planning to get the Pfizer vaccine, you must receive your first dose by   September 3 .    The second dose must be completed 21 days later.

  • If you are planning to get the J&J vaccine, you must receive your one dose by   September 24 .

  Click here for instructions  on how to upload your proof of vaccination to the Wolfie Health Portal. 

   

• I am a commuter student. What should I do if I have been vaccinated?

  Upload proof of full vaccination by September 24 to remain enrolled in your in-person fall classes and/or use an in-person campus service or facility.  Click here for  instructions  on how to upload your proof of vaccination to the Wolfie Health Portal. 

   

• I am a commuter student. What should I do if I am not vaccinated yet?

  You must upload proof of your initial dose to the   Wolfie Health Portal  when you receive that dose, and then upload proof of full vaccination by September 24 to remain enrolled in your in-person fall classes and/or use an in-person campus service or facility.  Click here for  instructions  on how to upload your proof of vaccination to the Wolfie Health Portal. 

  Note these important dates to meet this deadline and remain enrolled in your fall in-person classes:

  • If you are planning to get the Moderna vaccine, you must receive your first dose by August 27.  The second dose must be completed 28 days later.
  • If you are planning to get the Pfizer vaccine, you must receive your first dose by September 3.  The second dose must be completed 21 days later.

  • If you are planning to get the J&J vaccine, you must receive your one dose by September 24.

   

• Where should I submit my proof of vaccination?

  Submit your vaccination record through the Wolfie Health Portal (formerly Medicat) using this link . For instructions on how to upload your vaccination record, please review this tutorial . 

• Can I request a COVID-19 vaccine exemption?

  In very special circumstances you may request a limited exemption from the COVID vaccination requirement for medical or religious reasons.  Exemption requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.   

  • Requests for limited exemptions will be accepted through  5 pm EST on Monday, August 30.    No requests will be accepted after this date and time.  Note: the deadline for exemption requests has passed and requests are no longer accepted. 
  • Requests for limited exemptions must be written and signed by you if you are 18 years of age or older, or a parent or guardian if you are under the age of 18. 
  • For a medical exemption request, please download, complete, and submit this  FORM  to the  Wolfie Health Portal .  As part of your request, you will need to obtain a signature from an approved clinician as noted on the form. Note: the deadline for exemption requests has passed and requests are no longer accepted. 
  • For a   religious exemption request, please download, complete, and submit this  FORM  to the Office of Equity and Access at  oea@stonybrook.edu . Note: the deadline for exemption requests has passed and requests are no longer accepted. 
• What happens If I am granted a limited exemption?

  You will receive an email sent to your Stony Brook email address. If you are granted an exemption, you will be required to test  twice a week in support of our health and safety measures.  Testing will be offered on campus. If you prefer to test off-campus, you may, but you are responsible for the cost of any COVID tests not covered by your insurance.  If you do not comply with the twice a week testing required EVERY week, you will not be permitted to continue in classes or or access any in-person campus activities or services.

• What happens if I am not granted an exemption?

  You will receive an email sent to your Stony Brook email address.  If your exemption request is  not   approved, you have two options.  You can either:

  • Obtain and submit proof of your COVID vaccine by Friday, September 24 to the  Wolfie Health Portal   . For vaccination details, visit “ I have not yet received my COVID vaccine, but will now get vaccinated given the FDA approval and SUNY requirement   ”.

  or

  • Submit an email request from your Stony Brook email address to  studentaffairs@stonybrook.edu   within 3 days of the date of the denial email   and include the subject line “Withdraw from Classes.”  Please indicate if you wish to withdraw from  ALL classes or only in-person classes for the fall semester.  
    • If you submit your request within 3 days of the date of the denial email, we will process this request.  You will  not   be held liable for tuition and fees for the fall semester.  Your fall classes will be canceled and you will  not   receive Ws on your transcript.  
    • If you submit your request after 3 days of the date of the denial email, we will process your request, but  you will   be held liable for tuition and fees based upon the fall  academic calendar   .  If your request is submitted after September 3,  you will   receive Ws on your transcript for the fall semester.
    • If you do not submit a request at all, it is understood that you will obtain and submit proof of your COVID vaccine by September 24.  For vaccination details, visit  this webpage.  If you do not meet this deadline, you will be withdrawn from your in-person fall classes on September 27, you will be held liable for tuition and fees for the fall semester, and you will receive Ws on your transcript for these in-person classes.  
• What should I do if I have not and do not plan to receive a COVID vaccine?

  If you have not and do not plan to receive a COVID vaccine, you must drop your in-person classes via SOLAR.  If you are not vaccinated, you are permitted to enroll in online courses only (no in-person classes) and are  not   permitted to access any in-person campus services or facilities. 

  No remote learning options are available for students who do not want to receive a COVID-19 vaccine outside of any courses already offered remotely that have available seats. Students may not request a change in course modality to avoid receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, and faculty may not accommodate such requests received.

  Please review the  academic calendar   so that you are aware of tuition liability and add/drop deadlines.  If dropping your in-person classes results in moving from full-time to part-time status, please contact  Financial Aid   if you have any questions about your aid.

• If I am vaccinated, do I have to participate in surveillance testing?

  Yes! To safeguard the health and safety of our campus community, all vaccinated students will be required to participate in COVID surveillance testing. Please click on the appropriate link below:

  Testing Schedule for Vaccinated Resident Students :  All vaccinated residential students are required to participate in COVID surveillance PCR testing  every other week. 

  Testing Schedule for Vaccinated Commuter Students : All vaccinated commuter students are required to participate in monthly COVID surveillance testing.

  Although we strongly encourage you to utilize the testing we are offering on campus, you may choose to use an external provider, but you must meet the testing requirements in order to continue in classes.  Any costs associated with COVID testing at an off-campus location are your responsibility.  If you utilize an off-campus provider, you must upload your results to the Wolfie Health Portal by the deadline indicated in your testing schedule.  At-home COVID tests will not be accepted since the identity of the individual that took the test cannot be verified. 

   

• If I am unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, do I have to participate in surveillance testing?

  Yes! All unvaccinated students are required to participate in surveillance testing . 

  All commuter students who are partially vaccinated or received a vaccine within the last two weeks are required to obtain a COVID test once per week until they are considered fully vaccinated (two weeks after their final dose).  After being fully vaccinated, please follow the monthly surveillance testing plan noted under  Vaccinated Commuter Students. 

  Unvaccinated resident students who have an approved/provisional exemption need to test twice a week. 

  Please click on the appropriate link below for your testing schedule: 

  Testing Schedule for Unvaccinated Resident Students with Approved/Provisional Exemptions

  Testing Schedule for Unvaccinated/Partially Vaccinated Commuter Students 

  Although we strongly encourage you to utilize the testing we are offering on campus, you may choose to use an external provider, but you must meet the testing requirements in order to continue in classes.  Any costs associated with COVID testing at an off-campus location are your responsibility.  If you utilize an off-campus provider, you must upload your results to the Wolfie Health Portal by the deadline indicated in your testing schedule.  At-home COVID tests will not be accepted since the identity of the individual that took the test cannot be verified. 

• What should I do if I am enrolled in all online classes this fall and will not be coming to campus?

  If you are enrolled in all online classes and will not be physically present on campus at any time during the fall semester, you are not subject to the weekly COVID testing requirement.  Please complete this FORM as soon as possible .

• What if I am an employee on campus who is enrolled in classes, and have already submitted my vaccination information to SOLAR?

  If you are an employee on campus who is enrolled in in-person classes, you must still submit your vaccination information to the Wolfie Health Portal by September 24 .