The second phase of Kent State’s COVID-19 mandatory vaccine requirement began Monday, making vaccine registration or vaccine exemption mandatory for members of the Kent State community. 

“Our vaccine requirement is for all students, faculty and staff,” said Julie Volcheck, assistant vice president for student affairs and director of University Health Services in an email Monday. “To be compliant, you must get vaccinated and register your vaccine or secure an approved exemption. Those who receive an exemption will be required to participate in the university’s COVID-19 testing program.”

The vaccine requirement is for all students, faculty and staff and all members of the Kent State community must be fully vaccinated by December 20, 2021.

 

To be compliant with the vaccination requirement, vaccines must be registered and submitted to the Med+Proctor website. Exemptions to this requirement are granted for medical, religious or personal conscience reasons and those interested can apply for an exemption via the university’s Microsoft Forms or in-person at the “COVID-19 Vaccination Records and Exemption Requests Drop Box” outside of the main entrance of the DeWeese Health Center (1500 Eastway Dr Kent, OH 44242). 

 

Beginning Nov. 1, unvaccinated students, or students who have not registered their vaccination status will be tested twice-weekly. Unvaccinated or unregistered faculty members will be tested once weekly, according to the Coronavirus Updates website.

University health services offers COVID-19 vaccines daily at no cost to all members of the Kent State community and their families at the DeWeese Health Center on the Kent Campus, Volcheck said. Vaccination appointments can be booked outside of the Kent campus through the Ohio Department of Health Vaccination Portal. 

The university accepts several COVID vaccinations, such as Pfizer (two doses), Moderna (two doses), Johnson & Johnson (one dose) and Astra-Zeneca (two doses). The university currently offers Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson at the health center. 

Those interested in getting a vaccination can schedule an appointment through the University Health Services’ Patient Portal or by calling the health center at 330-672-2322.

A COVID Vaccine Team will open a Vaccination Info Desk in Room 221 on the second floor of the University Library on the Kent Campus, for anyone who may need assistance with uploading vaccine information, filling out exemption forms or have questions about the vaccine, Volcheck said.

 The COVID Vaccine Team staff will be available during these times:

• Monday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

• Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

• Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Those with questions about the university vaccine requirement can email the information desk at [email protected] or call 330-672-8227 during business hours.

Volcheck also encouraged vaccinated students, staff and faculty to receive their booster shots, which are now available at DeWeese Health Center. 

“The U.S Food and Drug Administration recently approved booster shots for all three of the vaccines being administered in the U.S: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson,” she said. 

Information on what boosters are available and who should get them can be accessed on the university website.

The university urges everyone, particularly the unvaccinated, those who will be leaving campus and individuals traveling outside of Northeast Ohio for Thanksgiving break to get tested for COVID-19 at a healthcare location or using one of the at-home testing kits available on all Kent campuses. 

“Please get tested two or three days prior to your departure and then take an at-home test two days before returning to campus,” Volchek said. 

Annie Zwisler is managing editor. Contact her at [email protected].