Vaccines and Boosters

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Recommendations

UC Vaccine Policy

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements

Primary Series

As a condition of physical presence at a University location or in a University Program, all covered individuals (students, faculty and staff), must receive and upload documentation of a COVID-19 primary series vaccine or submit and receive approval for an exception, exemption or deferral.

Student Compliance Date: Students starting or returning to campus after Fall 2021 must receive their primary series or have an approved exception, exemption, or deferral by the first day of their first term of instruction. 

Employee Compliance Date: After Fall 2021, new employees must be compliant with the primary series requirement within 12 weeks of their first day of employment. 

Primary Series Exemptions and Deferrals

The UC Vaccine Policy allows for medical exceptions consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and manufacturer labeling on contraindications and precautions. Faculty, staff and students are also eligible to request accommodations based on disability or religious belief, and deferrals are available for those who are pregnant.

Students

To request a primary series medical exemption, religious exception, disability exception or deferral during pregnancy, students may visit the Student Health Center's website.

All request forms must be uploaded to the UCI Student Health Center Patient Portal. Note that the review of your request may take up to seven (7) business days. Students will receive notification of approval or denial of the request via secure message on the portal.

For questions regarding the exemption process, send a secure message on the portal to: “Immunization Exemption/Deferral Request Inquiry” and a SHC nurse will respond within three to five (3-5) business days.

Employees

To request a primary series medical exemption, religious exception, disability exception or deferral during pregnancy, employees may visit UCI’s Future of Work COVID policy page.
You will receive a confirmation email when your documentation has been received.

COVID-19 Bivalent Booster

As a condition of physical presence at a University location or in a University Program, all covered individuals (students, faculty and staff), must receive a COVID-19 bivalent booster and attest to having received the booster or opt out of receiving the booster. The bivalent booster is required even if you have previously had a monovalent booster dose (booster doses given prior to September 1, 2022).

Student and Employee Compliance Date: All covered individuals (students, faculty and staff) must be compliant with the bivalent booster requirement by January 6, 2023.

Employees: Please see the December 6, 2022, communication from Human Resources for more information. Log into the Occupational Health upload portal to attest or opt out of the bivalent booster requirement.

Students: Please see the December 15, 2022, communication from Student Affairs for more information. Log into the Student Health Center Patient Portal for directions on how to attest or opt out of the bivalent booster requirement.

Assistance

UCI’s Contact Tracing & Vaccine Navigation Services is available to answer questions and assist with uploading required documentation for compliance. The team can also help individuals find vaccine resources in the community. Call 949-824-2300 or email contacttracing@uci.edu.