URI is now requiring eligible students, faculty and staff who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to get the booster shot prior to returning for the spring semester. Individuals are eligible for a booster six months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna two-shot series, or two months after the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Information about how individuals can submit proof of vaccination/booster shot compliance is available from Health Services, including what documentation will be accepted.
Faculty, staff, and students must provide proof that they received their booster shots by the first day of classes, Jan. 24, 2022. Those who are not yet eligible to receive the booster, will have 30 days after eligibility to upload proof.
Those who have approved exemptions must be tested twice weekly or risk disciplinary action such as suspension from the University.
Additionally, here are links to convenient retail and government sites to make it easy for you to schedule your shots:
The COVID‑19 vaccines and booster shots are widely available, safe, greatly limit the transmission of the virus, and have been shown to nearly eliminate the chances of death or serious illness related to a COVID‑19 infection. The vaccines and the booster shots are a critical element in protecting public health locally and worldwide and will help the University return for a full in-person experience in the spring. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 5 years and older get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. The CDC also says that everyone 16 and older can get a booster shot.
The University will provide updates to community members as it receives new guidance and data from the CDC and The Rhode Island Department of Health.