Vaccines and Boosters

UC Vaccine Policy

The UC Office of the President has issued an updated UC Vaccine Policy covering COVID-19 and flu vaccine requirements.

This policy requires all UCI students, staff and faculty, with few exceptions, to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 before physically accessing the university’s locations and programs. Compliance is required no later than two weeks before faculty, staff and students are expected to be on campus.

Boosters

COVID-19 boosters are required all eligible students, faculty and staff. For information on commonly asked questions, view the FAQ on boosters.

Those who become eligible must be boosted and upload their documentation no more than 15 days to be policy compliant.

Questions about the policy may be sent to UCOP-COVID19-Vaccine@UCOP.edu.

Flu Vaccination

For information on the flu vaccination requirement, visit the Student Health Center's website.

How to Get Vaccinated

We encourage students and employees to take advantage of the most immediate vaccination opportunity that arrives through county vaccination clinics, your healthcare provider, local pharmacies or, if you are a member, UCI Health. You may seek a vaccination appointment at myturn.ca.gov or by calling 1-833-422-4255 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Transportation Assistance

The FRESH Basic Needs Hub is providing transportation support for students who face financial barriers accessing a vaccine site.

The vaccine is free. No fees required for those covered by UCSHIP

Students who are covered by UCSHIP are not charged any fees, copays or out-of-pocket expenses for vaccinations. Organizations administering the vaccine, such as UCI Health, may bill insurance companies for administrative costs. For this reason, UCSHIP requests that students receive a referral before or after the vaccination by contacting shc-insurance@uci.edu or 949-824-2388.

California

Register at the state’s MyTurn web page to record your eligibility and be notified when appointments are available near you.

Outside California

Register for VaccineFinder to help you find the latest COVID-19 vaccine availability in your area.

International

For individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccination outside of the United States, UCI will accept vaccines authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Several airports offer COVID-19 vaccines, including Los Angeles International (LAX), Orange County (SNA) and San Francisco International (SFO).

Fall 2022 vaccination clinics available on campus for students, faculty & staff

For the convenience of students, faculty and staff, UCI is pleased to offer vaccination clinics on campus in partnership with Ralphs and Albertsons pharmacies. The clinics will start in September and continue through the fall quarter and will be held in the lower-level lobby of the Division of Continuing Education (building 8 on the campus map). Parking spaces will be held for vaccine clinic participants in lot 17A and Anteater Parking Structure.

The clinics are tentatively scheduled to operate from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the dates shown below. Clinic dates and times are subject to change contingent upon the number of pre-scheduled appointments.

Please be advised that these clinics are hosted and managed by either Ralphs or Albertsons Pharmacies – not UCI Student Health Center nor UCI Health. Therefore, registration, appointment scheduling and administration of vaccinations are governed by the protocols of the individual retail pharmacies.

Albertsons Instructions

Please use this QR code or link to register and schedule an appointment on one of the Albertsons clinic dates:

https://kordinator.mhealthcoach.net/vcl/ucirvine

What to bring to your appointment:

• A completed vaccine consent form (consent form can be accessed below or on the Albertsons portal)
• Copy of insurance card (front and back)
• Anyone requesting COVID booster shots will need to furnish proof of completion of primary series (COVID card or QR code)

HIPAA Notice Informed Consent for Immunization

Ralphs Instructions

To schedule an appointment, visit COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling - Kroger 

You may also use this QR code to register and schedule an appointment:

Individiuals will need to input the zip code of 92697 to find the clinic named:

UCI Clinic 

510 East Peltason Drive

Irvine, CA 92697

There will be a priority booking code needed for students/staff to book an appointment, the code is: UCIVAC22.

Appointments can only be made two weeks prior to each clinic date, so those wanting an appointment past the first couple offerings will need to wait until two weeks prior the desired clinic date.

Upload your immunication records

In order to be compliant with the UC policy, students, faculty, and staff must upload their immunization records and dates to either:

• Student Health Portal (students only)
• Occupational Health Database Portal (faculty and staff only)

UCI staff will be available at the clinics to assist you with uploading vaccine records. 

Cost

The retail pharmacies will bill your insurance plan for vaccines and/or vaccine administration fees. Your out-of-pocket cost is determined by the benefits of your health insurance plan. Contact your health insurance plan prior to your appointment to determine if any out-of-pocket costs may apply.

For students covered by UC SHIP, there is no out-of-pocket costs for preventative care including vaccinations. 

Support

For questions about your appointment or if you need technical assistance, please contact the respective pharmacy at the “help desk” number they provide in their appointment confirmation email.

For questions specifically about compliance with UC’s vaccine policies, please contact the UCI COVID Response Center at covid19@uci.edu or 949-824-9918 or the UCI Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services team at contacttracing@uci.edu or 949-824-2300. CTVNS can provide assistance in various ways including with locating vaccination providers in the community, accessing vaccine records in California and uploading records to the Student Health Patient Portal.

For inquiries regarding compliance with UC’s vaccine policies, you may contact: 

UCI Student Health Center (SHC) Immunization Coordinator: shc-immunization@uci.edu (for general inquiries that do not contain protected health information) or 949-824-4348.

For inquiries that contain your protected health information, please send a secure message through the Student Health Patient Portal to the “New Student Immunization Requirement” mailbox (students only).

Appointments at Student Health Center for immunizations and/or TB testing can be made online through the Student Health Patient Portal or by calling SHC’s appointment line at 949-824-5304.

Flu vaccination clinics

In collaboration with the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Program in Public Health, the Student Health Center will be hosting flu vaccination clinics on Ring Road for students only. (Faculty and staff are encouraged to obtain their flu vaccinations at the Ralph’s or Albertson’s vaccination clinics referenced above.)

This service is free for UC SHIP students. There is a $21 fee for non-UCSHIP students. (In many cases, the fee may be reimbursed by insurance. Please check with your insurance provider. As an alternative, non-SHIP students can obtain their flu vaccination at one of the Ralph’s or Albertson’s clinics referenced above and your insurance plan will be billed directly.)

Flu clinics are open from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on the following dates:

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 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.

Students who are not vaccinated because of receiving an exemption, exception or deferral must, at a minimum, wear masks and participate in regular COVID-19 testing. Students who arrive partially vaccinated or whose exemption, exception, or deferral request is pending must also mask and participate in regular testing. Students who are not vaccinated and not approved for an exemption, exception or deferral will be subject to enforcement protocols.

Employees

To request a 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. While your exception request is pending, you must wear a face covering that light cannot pass through when indoors, participate in weekly COVID-19 testing and complete the Daily Symptom Check.

Student and Employee Booster Exceptions

There are four scenarios for booster exceptions:

• If you have an existing medical, disability or religious exception.
• If you have an existing pregnancy deferral or other time-limited exception.
• If you were previously denied an exception.
• If you want an exception to this booster.

See details on each scenario.

Assistance

UCI’s Contact Tracing & Vaccine Navigation Services is available to help individuals find vaccine appointments. Call 949-824-2300 or email contacttracing@uci.edu. The team is also able to assist with uploading vaccine records and exception requests.

Verify Your Vaccination Status

The UC policy requires individuals to show proof of vaccination.

Student Verification

Students who have already received their COVID-19 vaccine (including booster) should upload their vaccination record on the UCI Student Health Center Patient Portal.

Instructions on how to upload COVID-19 vaccine record

Employee Verification

Employees who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 (including booster) and have not yet submitted verification should upload proof of vaccination at the Occupational Health upload portal.

Please consider these tips to ensure successful verification:

• If the name on your vaccination record does not match your name as it appears in UCPath (the payroll system), please upload another piece of documentation, e.g., a copy of your driver’s license, with your vaccination documentation so that the team can verify your records.
• Do not cross out your name or birthdate on your vaccination card. This information is important for verification of your records. The upload portal is a UCI health record system and all reasonable precautions are taken to protect your information.