COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Students

Updated: October 2, 2024

The updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine is strongly recommended for all students.

Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines

In alignment with guidance on staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

  • You are up to date when you have received:
    • 1 dose of the 2024-2025 Moderna OR Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine OR
    • 1 dose of the 2024-2025 Novavax vaccine, unless you are receiving a COVID-19 for the very first time. If you have never received any COVID-19 vaccine and choose to get Novavax, you will need 2 doses of the 2024-2025 Novavax vaccine to be up to date.
  • Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. This includes people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine before and people who have had COVID-19.
  • The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you from severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Vaccine protection decreases over time, and the updated vaccine gives you the best protection from currently circulating strains. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer, more reliable way to build protection than getting sick with COVID-19.
  • It is especially important to get your 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you are age 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • People who recently had COVID-19 may delay getting a COVID-19 vaccine for 3 months after infection.

For Students Enrolled in Clinical Programs

According to Columbia University policy, all students enrolled in clinical programs must provide documentation of having received the COVID-19 primary series or at least one dose of an authorized/approved COVID-19 vaccine after 2022, unless a formal medical exemption is granted.

Vaccines Received from CUIMC Student Health on Haven

Student Health on Haven is offering the 2024-2025 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible CUIMC students by appointment only; please schedule by visiting the Student Health Portal. 

  • Once logged in, click on ‘Appointments’, and select ‘COVID-19 Vaccine Booster’.
  • From there, please choose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccine is covered by Aetna Student Health Insurance with $0 out of pocket cost. If you have waived the Aetna Student Health Insurance plan, the COVID-19 vaccine will be billed at $130 at the time of service, which you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. 

For questions, email Studenthealthonhaven@cumc.columbia.edu. If you received a vaccine and/or booster from CUIMC Student Health on Haven your records will be updated automatically, and you will not need to upload records. You may view verification at any time by accessing the ‘Immunizations’ section of the Student Health Portal.

Vaccines Received from Other Sites

COVID-19 vaccine appointments can be made via vaccinetogetherny.org or through your Connect account (if you use ColumbiaDoctors providers).

Additionally, the COVID-19 vaccine is available at many pharmacies and other locations in the metropolitan New York City area.

  • The COVID Vaccine Finder by State can help you find a convenient location in your community.
  • You may also text your local zipcode to 438829 (GETVAX). You will receive a text with information about vaccine locations near you.
  • Be sure to bring your CDC vaccination card with you so the booster may be recorded.

If you received a vaccine/booster as a requirement for clinical responsibilities from any site other than Student Health on Haven (including any other University-run vaccination site), you must upload your vaccine documentation in the ‘Medical Clearances’ section of the Student Health Portal. Acceptable proof of vaccination includes, but is not limited, to the following:

  • CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Card
  • WHO Vaccine Booklet
  • Documentation provided by a health care professional/organization/country

You must submit all documentation in English or accompanied by a certified translation (at the student’s expense).

Verification of documentation is at the sole discretion of Student Health on Haven. Additional information or documentation may be requested and must be provided to verify a submission.

Uploading Your Documentation

All CUIMC students should use our Student Health Portal to upload vaccination documentation. Student Health on Haven will review the documentation and reach out to students if additional information is needed or if the documentation submitted is insufficient.

Download Instructions on How to Upload Your Vaccination Documentation (PDF).

All records must include the following:

  • Student Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Name of vaccine received
  • Date of vaccination(s)
  • Provider name, signature, or stamp

Medical Exemptions

You may request an exemption from the vaccination requirement for medical contraindications to the vaccine. Students wishing to request an exemption must submit the required request forms to the Student Health Portal. You must submit your exemption request at least 30 business days before your first planned campus access to Article 28 spaces. We will not expedite late submissions.

All exemption requests are reviewed by an expert panel and all students submitting a request will receive a response, in writing, within 2 weeks of their submission. Requests without sufficient documentation will be denied. All requests are considered and reviewed, but approval is not guaranteed. Decisions are final and are not subject to appeal.

Submit a Medical Exemption Request

Privacy Policy

Student Health on Haven makes every effort to protect the privacy of submitted information. Please review our Vaccination Status Privacy Notice for more details.