Vaccination Policy
FDU requires that all students who attend either the Metropolitan or Florham campus must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The requirement applies to all students who will be on campus to live, attend classes, or engage in any in-person activities.
“Fully vaccinated” means that two weeks have elapsed after the final injection of an FDA-authorized vaccine. Faculty and staff who are assigned to be on campus are also required to be vaccinated.
Students, faculty and staff must upload a copy of their vaccination card to the University’s health information portal (Medicat). Individuals should upload their vaccination records as soon as the first shot is received, and the record should be updated after receiving the second shot for vaccinations involving two doses. Please note that while FDU allows limited medical and religious exemptions in keeping with applicable law and standard practices, there are no exceptions or exemptions granted for students, faculty and staff who wish to participate in FDU-sponsored or FDU-approved study abroad programs.
For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, please see the section below and continue to monitor this site for further updates.
COVID-19 Vaccination FAQs
Does FDU require all students to be immunized against COVID-19?
FDU has updated its immunizations policy and requires all students who attend either the Metropolitan or Florham campus to be immunized against COVID-19. This includes all students who are on campus to live, attend classes, or engage in any in-person activities. Students enrolled in fully online programs and who do not come on campus are not required to be vaccinated.
Do students who do not live on campus need to be immunized against COVID-19?
Yes. All students who are present on either the Metropolitan or Florham campus must be immunized against COVID-19 whether or not they live on campus.
Do students have to prove that they have been vaccinated? How?
Yes. Proof of vaccination is required of all students who will be present on either the Metropolitan or Florham campus. Students who are living on campus must provide proof of vaccination before moving in. Students can upload a copy of their vaccination card to Medicat, the University’s health information portal, to verify that they are fully vaccinated. Students can upload their record after they have received their first dose of a vaccine. Records can be updated later once receiving a second dose if a vaccine with two doses is selected. Medicat can be accessed with the same username and password that is used for FDU student accounts. If you are having technical difficulties, please contact the Help Desk at 973-443-8822.
What vaccines fulfill this requirement?
Students must receive a COVID-19 vaccine that is authorized in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At this time that includes vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.
How can students based outside the U.S. who cannot receive a vaccine authorized by the FDA fulfill the requirement?
We recognize that students outside the United States may only be able to obtain vaccines that have been authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) but not the FDA. Following the guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FDU recognizes vaccines authorized for use by the WHO. Accordingly, international students who receive any of the FDA- or WHO-authorized vaccines meet the FDU requirement.
We also understand that some students based outside the United States might not be able to obtain a vaccine authorized by either the WHO or FDA. FDU will work with these students to help them receive an FDA-approved vaccine after they arrive in the United States.
Do students who have already had COVID-19 still need to show proof of vaccination to attend FDU?
Yes. Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past still must be vaccinated and show proof of their vaccination.
Why should individuals get vaccinated?
Studies have shown that vaccines currently authorized for use in the United States are highly effective (more than 90%) at preventing COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination is an important step in stopping the pandemic, protects people who are vaccinated from getting sick or severely ill with COVID-19, and may also protect others around them. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as one is available to you.
Are the vaccines safe?
According to the CDC, the authorized vaccines are safe and effective, and studies have shown they prevent severe illness and death from the virus. For more information, see the CDC website. FDU announced the vaccination policy well ahead of the fall semester so that students and their families had the opportunity to gather information, consult with their physicians and trusted health professionals, and make informed choices.
What are the side effects of the vaccines?
Information about possible side effects is available on the CDC website. Many people have reported no side effects, while others report normal side effects that are signs your body is building protection. According to the CDC, these can include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site and/or tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, or nausea; and normal side effects only last a couple of days.
Are there any exemptions from this requirement?
Yes. FDU allows limited exemptions for religious and medical reasons (including based on a disability or advice from a physician not to receive a COVID-19 vaccination while pregnant or breastfeeding). However, exemptions are not permitted for students, faculty and staff either enrolled in or leading FDU study abroad programs or traveling internationally for University-sponsored business.
How can students request an exemption?
FDU requires students who request an exemption for religious reasons to submit a written statement, signed by the student (or by a parent or legal guardian if the student is a minor), explaining how immunization conflicts with the student’s sincere religious beliefs. FDU requires that students who request a medical exemption to submit a written statement from their health care provider explaining the medical contraindication and the time period for which the exemption is being requested. A form is provided in Medicat for those who wish to request an exemption.
Are faculty and staff required to be vaccinated?
Yes, the University now requires faculty and staff who are assigned to be on campus to get vaccinated. Like students, faculty and staff may apply for medical and religious exemptions. Those who are granted exemptions will be subject to weekly PCR testing in order to be allowed on campus.
Where can students and other community members get vaccinated and how can an individual make a vaccine appointment?
To register and learn more about making vaccine appointments, community members can consult the state’s website. In addition, FDU is working with regional health facilities (Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, N.J., and Atlantic Health System in Morristown, N.J.) to facilitate vaccinations for students, faculty, and staff. You can register directly for either option. Go to the Holy Name Vaccine Registration Portal and, in the category of “Eligibility Information,” faculty, staff, and students should select “Educator/Childcare,” and then list Fairleigh Dickinson University as the organization. For Atlantic Health System, go to COVID-19 Vaccine – FDU – Atlantic Health.
Do individuals have to pay to be vaccinated?
No. The New Jersey Department of Health has stated that no one will have to pay to be vaccinated. If you have health insurance your insurance company may be billed, but costs will not be passed along to you.
What is FDU’s definition of an outbreak that would trigger non-vaccinated students to leave campus?
Outbreak is defined as an expanding number of COVID-19 cases over a short period of time from one source. This is dependent on the number of resident students and advice from the local health department.
What are the consequences for those students who do not comply with the COVID-19 vaccination policy?
Students who have not uploaded verification of being vaccinated and have not been granted an exemption from the vaccination requirement will not be permitted to attend classes in person, reside on campus or take part in on-campus activities.