Masks are strongly recommended indoors the first two weeks of each quarter.
Updated boosters provide enhanced protection against current COVID-19 variants.

Updated: Oct. 14, 2022

Where to get a vaccine | Booster shots | Vaccination requirement

The University of Washington requires students and personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccines being administered are safe and effective, and you can be vaccinated at any provider at no cost to you. 

Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

UW Medicine COVID-19 Vaccinations

UW Medicine

Vaccinations are available to students, personnel and the public at multiple UW Medicine locations.
Note: UW Medicine employees must use the employee survey.

Vaccinate WA

Vaccine locator

Find pharmacies, clinics and other locations offering vaccines around the state of Washington, including near UW campuses.

Not currently in Washington? Vaccines.gov details where to get vaccinated in states and territories across the United States. And local health departments can provide information on vaccination options outside the United States.

When can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

All Washington residents age 6 months and over are eligible to receive a vaccine, as are residents in all states and territories in the United States. Eligibility outside the United States varies by country, so please check with the relevant health department to learn more.

More information about vaccines is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Booster shots

A booster shot of a coronavirus vaccine is strongly encouraged for everyone age 5 and over who received the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. UW employees are allowed to use release time to get a booster shot. Getting vaccinated or a booster shot after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19.

As of Sept. 2022, new booster shots from Pfizer and Moderna are available that target both the original strain of the virus and the newer omicron subvariants, including BA.4 and BA.5. You can now receive a fall booster shot if you meet the criteria below.

The updated Pfizer boosters are available to people ages 5 and older who have:

  • Completed their COVID-19 primary series vaccination at least two months ago; or
  • Received their last booster/additional dose at least two months ago.

The updated Moderna boosters are available to people ages 6 and older meeting the same criteria.

Children ages 6 months through 5 years who previously completed a Moderna primary series are eligible to receive a Moderna bivalent booster two months after their final primary series dose.

Children ages 6 months through 4 years who are currently completing a Pfizer primary series will receive a Pfizer bivalent vaccine as their third primary dose.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has additional information regarding booster shots. Consult your health care provider for questions specific to your individual circumstances, including situations involving vaccines not listed above.

At this time, the state of Washington has not added a booster shot requirement to its definition of “fully vaccinated” under the state’s vaccination mandate. Any changes to University vaccination requirements will be made in accordance with changes to state and local public health requirements.

Vaccinations required for students and personnel

In order to protect the health and safety of our community, the University of Washington is requiring all students and personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19, with certain exemptions allowed.

  • Students and UW personnel are required to be fully vaccinated or receive an exemption. UW Medicine clinical personnel should continue to follow UW Medicine policies and procedures. Vaccination is a condition of employment as of Oct. 18, 2021.
  • All students and personnel should get vaccinated as soon as possible, wherever they are currently living. Vaccines authorized by the United States, by the World Health Organization or by other nations will meet this requirement.
  • Vaccinations are available on and near campus if students and personnel can’t get vaccinated where they currently live.
  • At this time, the state of Washington has not added a booster shot requirement to its vaccination mandate.

Hall Health Center is available to answer questions about COVID-19 vaccine requirements at covidvaxrequirement@uw.edu and will seek to reply by the next business day.

These requirements were implemented on the recommendation of the UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases. The UW already requires students to be vaccinated against certain diseases, such as measles and mumps.

 

More information on COVID-19 vaccines