Elon students, faculty and staff who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and have been fully vaccinated for at least six months are now eligible for booster shots.
Dear Elon Community,
All students, faculty, and staff who have been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for six months or more are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot. The CDC has authorized and recommended booster vaccine shots to strengthen and extend protections against severe illness.
Please carefully read the CDC information about booster shots and eligibility.
Who is Eligible?
You can get a booster if it has been at least six months since your second Pfizer COVID-19 shot, and one of the following is true:
- You are 65 or older.
- You are 18 and older and:
- You live or work in a nursing home or other long-term care residential facility.
- You have a medical condition that puts you at high risk for severe illness; for example obesity, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
- You work in a high-risk profession, meaning you come into contact with a lot of people, and you don’t know their vaccination status; for example, health care workers, first responders, teachers, food processing workers, retail and restaurant workers, and public transportation workers.
- You live or work in a place where many people live together; for example, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, migrant farm housing, dormitories or other group living settings in colleges or universities.
Elon students, faculty, and staff fall within these CDC guidelines and may self-attest their eligibility without providing additional proof. Graduate and undergraduate students who live on or off campus are eligible.
Where Can I Get a Booster?
There is ample supply of boosters across the state for those who are 12 and older. Visit myspot.nc.gov to find a Pfizer COVID-19 booster.
What if I Received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson?
Booster vaccines are not currently available for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. We expect these approvals to come later this fall.
Will Elon Host Booster Vaccine Clinics?
The university is working to be able to host booster vaccine clinics in November. In the meantime, students, faculty and staff can visit myspot.nc.gov to find a Pfizer COVID-19 booster in the area.
Should I Notify Elon About Receiving my Booster?
Yes. Bring your vaccination card with you when you receive your booster so it can be updated. If you do not have your card, a new one will be provided to you. After you receive the shot, use Elon’s vaccination portal to upload your documentation — this capability should be available after Fall Break. This will allow the university to continue to assess the COVID infection rates in the community and will verify your booster status if the additional shot is required in the future.
Has the Definition of Fully Vaccinated Changed Due to the Pfizer Booster?
The CDC has not changed recommendations or guidelines for being considered fully vaccinated. Those who are two weeks past their second dose of a 2-dose vaccine (e.g. Pfizer or Moderna) or two weeks past a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are still considered fully vaccinated according to the current CDC guidelines.
Can I Get a Flu Shot at the Same Time I Get a Booster or Do I Need to Get Them Separately?
Current recommendations are that patients may either receive a flu shot and booster at the same time or at least two weeks apart. Elon will not be able to host a booster vaccine clinic until November. Flu shots are currently available on campus:
Students: See the dates, locations and how to register for upcoming clinics.
Staff and Faculty: Employees who wish to schedule a flu vaccine appointment on campus should visit the Faculty/Staff Wellness Clinic website for information and appointments.
Additional information can be found on the FAQs section of the vaccination page on the Healthy Elon web site.
Thank you for your continued focus on the health and well-being of our community,
Jeff Stein, Healthy Elon Committee Chair
- Dan Anderson, Special Assistant to the President
- Ginette Archinal, Medical Director of Student Health and University Physician
- MarQuita Barker, Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Director of Residence Life
- John Barnhill, Associate Vice President for University Advancement
- Tom Flood, Assistant Vice President of Physical Plant
- Jason Husser, Associate Professor of Political Science and Policy Studies, and Director of the Elon Poll (Academic Council Representative)
- Deandra Little, Assistant Provost, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and Professor of English
- Paul Miller, Associate Provost for Academic Excellence and Operations and Professor of Exercise Science
- Kelly Reimer, Senior Director of Teaching and Learning Technologies (Staff Council Representative)
- Carrie Ryan, Assistant Vice President for Auxiliary Services
- Kelli Shuman, Associate Vice President for Human Resources & Chief Human Resources Officer
- Gabie Smith, Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Psychology
- Mary Southern, Project Manager for Provost and Academic Affairs Operations (Project Manager)