COVID-19 vaccines have been demonstrated to be safe and effective, protecting people from getting sick or severely ill from COVID-19. There is also substantial evidence that people who are vaccinated are less likely to spread the virus. Having most of a population vaccinated protects the people who are vaccinated and those who cannot be vaccinated.

Based on the best medical and scientific guidance, Princeton University determined that requiring our campus community – faculty, staff, and students – to be vaccinated will allow us to resume in-person teaching, research, extracurricular activities, dining, residential life, and the work of our campus while protecting our community, individually and collectively. 

By July 1, 2021, all faculty, staff, researchers, appointed visiting faculty and researchers, temporary employees, and independent contractors routinely working on the Princeton campus or in property occupied by the University are required to do one of the following in VacStatus:

• Submit their COVID-19 vaccination proof;
• Report that they are not yet fully vaccinated, but intend to be by an upcoming date;
• Apply for a medical or religious accommodation; or,
• Report that they do not plan to be vaccinated, despite the University requirement.

By August 1, 2021, all Employees that have not received an accommodation must provide proof of having received their final dose of the vaccine (second dose for two-dose vaccine or one dose for a single dose vaccine). 

By July 1, 2021, you need to have uploaded or updated your information in VacStatus. By August 1, 2021, if you have not received an accommodation, you must have received the final dose of the vaccine (second dose for two-dose vaccine or one dose for a single dose vaccine). 

The University is accepting those vaccines authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as those authorized by the World Health Organization EUL. The following COVID vaccines are being accepted:

• FDA-Authorized: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen)
• WHO EUL-Authorized: AstraZeneca/Oxford (SK-BIO and Covashield), Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV) and Sinovac (CoronaVac) 

You can find the latest updates on approved vaccines on the UHS website.

Access to VacStatus is limited to a small group of authorized personnel in University Health Services, Environmental Health and Safety, and OIT system administrators responsible for maintaining VacStatus.  

This information may be used to determine your COVID-19 vaccination status and your suitability for certain University activities in accordance with COVID-19 policies, and for reporting and operational planning purposes. The University will store this information in accordance with its information security policy and will limit access in accordance with operational needs and legal requirements.  In addition, University Health Services and other authorized personnel may use relevant portions of your personally identifiable information when deemed necessary to ensure compliance with the Vaccination Policy and other COVID-19 policies Princeton University has put in place to protect the health and safety of the campus community.

The University takes responsibility for securing data very seriously. This information is stored in accordance with the University’s information security policy and the software used to collect and store this information has undergone a comprehensive security review. We have also implemented extra precautions (including encryption of specific data) to protect this information. 

Yes. However, the CDC recommends that if you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Individuals hired after July 1, 2021 will be required to be vaccinated and to enter their vaccine information in VacStatus prior to their first day of work on campus. They do not have to have completed their course of vaccination by the first day of work, but need to have begun vaccination.

In VacStatus, indicate when you will be able to be vaccinated. If you are traveling to Princeton from a country that does not have acceptable COVID-19 vaccines, University Health Services will advise how to proceed with vaccination once you are in the U.S.

Yes. Some tasks may require vaccinated individuals to wear protective equipment or may require individuals who are not fully-vaccinated to use face shields or other equipment based on the risk associated with the task or workplace setting. Departments and offices should consult with Environmental Health and Safety before imposing additional requirements that restrict the activities of unvaccinated employees to ensure consistency across the University. 

In VacStatus, choose the option for applying for an accommodation. Complete the form associated with the type of accommodation you seek.

A small group led by University Health Services and including representatives from Human Resources, Dean of the Faculty, Disability Services, and Religious Life will review applications for accommodations.

Individuals who have severe or immediate allergic reactions to any of the components of the vaccines should not be vaccinated. Individuals who had a severe or immediate allergic reaction to the first dose of a vaccine should not get a second dose. 

 

The CDC notes that people who are pregnant are more likely to become severely ill with COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. The CDC and FDA advise that you can get a COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant, and recommend that if you have questions, you should discuss them with your healthcare provider.

If your healthcare provider recommends postponing vaccination, you may request a medical accommodation. See CDC guidance on COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding for more information.

The University will not have an official vaccine passport, but your vaccine record in VacStatus will note that your vaccination information has been verified.

Managers should consult with DOF and HR to determine how best to engage with their staff on this topic. While the EEOC has clarified that information about an employee’s COVID-19 vaccination status is considered confidential medical information, the University is permitted to request or require confirmation of vaccination from employees so long as they keep such documentation separate from an employee’s personnel file.

The policy applies to all Princeton University faculty, staff, researchers, appointed visiting faculty and researchers, temporary employees, and independent contract employees routinely working on campus or other property occupied by Princeton University. An independent contract employee is a contractor hired to perform University functions, such as event security, temp agencies, etc.

This term refers to people who receive a paycheck from an entity other than Princeton University, but are supervised by a University employee. For example, an individual hired from a food services company to work with Campus Dining, event security staff hired from a private company to work with Public Safety, and a temp agency employee hired to provide administrative support to a University department are examples of independent contract employees.

On the other hand, a contractor hired by the Office of Capital Projects to renovate a campus building would be a contractor that must abide by the the Requirements for Contractors and Vendors. An employee of ROTC program would be considered an affiliate. The University has not determined how this policy will affect affiliates.

No.

No, remote work is not an available alternative for employees who are not fully vaccinated.  

The department head, in consultation with HR or DOF will make this determination.

At this time, the policy does not cover University affiliates; however, the University is exploring how to apply the policy to University affiliates who routinely use our facilities or interact with our faculty, staff, or students.

At this time, the policy does not cover contractors and vendors. Contractors and vendors are expected to follow the Requirements for Contractors and Vendors.

Employees who are not vaccinated and do not qualify for a disability/medical or religious accommodation must consult with their manager and Human Resources or the Office of the Dean of the Faculty to discuss possible options. Working remotely is not an approved option for employees who elect not to be vaccinated and do not qualify for a religious or medical accommodation.

The University will continue to monitor the developments regarding the need for and recommended use of booster vaccinations for COVID-19 and follow guidance from the CDC and NJ Department of Health and best medical practice when available. When and if boosters become available and recommended, the University will communicate at that time whether they are required or not.

To verify if you have submitted a vaccine record in VacStatus:

1. Log into VacStatus via this web link or the TigerSafe app
2. Select the option for “Provide Vaccination Record” and click the Next button.
3. On the next screen, if you've submitted a record, you will be able to see your vaccination information. If you are listed as “Verified” then no further action is required. If no records are on that screen you will need to upload your vaccination card.

Employees vaccinated in New Jersey can request a new copy of their immunization card by visiting the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS) website. Learn more about how to submit a request on the NJ Covid Information Hub.   

Those vaccinated outside of New Jersey can find their immunization record through your state’s IIS. An alphabetical list is published on the CDC website.  

For technical issues with VacStatus, contact OIT from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week at 609-258-4357 (8-HELP), helpdesk@princeton.edu, or via online chat. For other questions, contact UHS at covidvaccines@princeton.edu.

You can also get help in person by going to the asymptomatic testing clinic any time it is open. See Clinic Information for hours of operation.

Contact UHS at covidvaccines@Princeton.edu. You should be able to receive one of the authorized vaccines in addition to the vaccine you already received.

Your health insurance will provide coverage if you suffer an adverse reaction to the vaccination that requires medical services. You will be responsible for your portion of the costs, such as copays, a deductible and/or coinsurance, depending upon the services required for treatment.

Your COVID-19 days, sick or bundled time may be used. If you are out eight days or more, you may apply for short term disability.

AYEs who will be working on campus this summer are held to the same deadlines. Those away from campus who will not return until August are required to enter their information in VacStatus by September 1 and must receive the final dose of their chosen vaccine no later than September 30. In the meantime, upon their return to campus, employees must follow all protocols in place for unvaccinated people. Departments should be sure to communicate this to their AYE’s immediately upon their return.

The University has instituted a Covid-19 vaccine requirement for all students and employees, though requests may be made for medical or religious accommodations. The requirements were put in place based on public health guidance and best practices for helping to reduce the spread of Covid-19 on our campus. While Worker’s Compensation benefits may not apply to adverse impacts from vaccination, should employees apply for Worker’s Compensation benefits in connection with an adverse reactions they incur as a result of being vaccinated, such applications will be reviewed on a case by case basis in accordance with our Worker’s Compensation policy.  Otherwise, Covid-19 days and other accrued paid time off, as well as short term disability, are available in accordance with applicable University policy.