COVID-19 Vaccine

The vaccine is free to everyone who is eligible. New York State’s vaccination eligibility now includes all United States residents 12 years of age and older, as well as non-residents (including international students). New York State has an online tool to schedule an appointment at a New York State-run vaccination site. Appointments can also be scheduled by calling New York State’s hotline at 1-833-697-4829. Some vaccination sites are accepting walk-ins. Find a city or state-run site near you for walk-in information.

If you are outside of New York State, the CDC has information for your location as well as general guidance on the vaccine. Currently, Pratt is not distributing vaccines.

The Back to Pratt COVID-19 Vaccine page has further information including vaccination appointment tips, different methods to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in New York City, and useful websites and numbers.

No, you do not have to pay to be vaccinated in the United States. The US federal government is providing the COVID-19 vaccination free of charge, regardless of immigration or health insurance status.

Following the guidance of the CDC that promotes vaccination as a way to make it harder for COVID-19 to spread from person to person, Pratt is encouraging as many people to be vaccinated as possible for the safety and health of our community both on campus and beyond. The Mayo Clinic has in-depth information on the role of vaccinations in ending the pandemic.

Vaccinations will allow us to have more in-person classes, events, and time together on campus. Each person who is vaccinated helps protect not just themselves from COVID-19 but everyone around them and helps us return to a more normal and robust academic year.

Fully vaccinated means that the required number of doses for the vaccine has been received and more than two weeks have elapsed since completing these doses. If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated.

Example:

• 2 weeks after the second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

Pratt is following the guidance on vaccines from the CDC.

Yes, Pratt Institute is requiring all students, faculty, and staff who will be on campus in fall 2021 to be fully vaccinated. All vaccines authorized for emergency use in the United States by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are acceptable. For international students, Pratt also will accept vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) (see the WHO site for the latest list of authorized vaccines).

Everyone arriving on campus will be required to submit proof of their vaccination. Pratt is offering its faculty and staff up to four hours of excused leave per injection that will not be charged against any other leave. Details can be found in the vaccination time off policy.

Pratt asks all students, faculty, and staff (including those who are currently working remotely but plan to be on campus in the fall) to upload their vaccination proof into our secure database for contact tracing purposes, proof of eligibility for using the vaccination day accrual, and to aggregate data about the progress that our community has made towards vaccination against COVID-19. The due date for uploading your vaccine proof for the fall semester is July 30 to allow time for the information to be processed before the start of classes.

Do not wait until the last minute to be vaccinated; make a vaccine appointment at the earliest opportunity so you will meet the requirements to be fully vaccinated at the start of the fall 2021 semester.

For the latest information, visit the Back to Pratt COVID-19 Vaccine page.

The due date for uploading your vaccine proof for the fall semester is July 30. This allows for time to process the information before the start of classes. All students, faculty, and staff (including those who are currently working remotely but plan to be on campus in the fall) can upload their vaccination proof into our secure database.

Pratt’s digital IDs have been updated to reflect the new campus access guidance for summer 2021. Please follow these steps before arrival:

• Download the Pratt Safe app.
• Submit your vaccine proof (if fully vaccinated, which means that you have received the required number of doses for the vaccine and more than two weeks have elapsed since completing these doses) or a negative COVID-19 test.
• Sign a social contract. (If you have already completed a social contract this year, you don’t need to do it again.)
• Before you arrive on campus (up to four hours prior to arrival) complete the health screening questionnaire in the Pratt Safe app.
• The digital ID should show the icons for your health screening questionnaire, social contract, and vaccine status in green. If so, you are ready to access campus.

No, if you have submitted your vaccine proof online and it has been approved, it will already be recorded on your Pratt Safe app digital ID for accessing campus.

Pratt Institute is seeking to create a safe and healthy environment where we can come together on campus to have those dynamic exchanges of ideas in person that we so deeply value. The decision to require all students, faculty, and staff who are on campus to be vaccinated was not made lightly. Collectively across campus, we partnered to hear different perspectives on vaccinations during the decision-making process.

Following guidance from the CDC, recommendations from New York State, and a student survey, as well as consultations with staff and faculty representatives, Pratt made the decision to require vaccination for all students, faculty, and staff. There is now reliable evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines prevent COVID-19 illness and the spread of the disease.

In the final analysis, it became clear that requiring vaccines would be the most effective measure to ensure the safest environment for our community while on campus. For fall 2021, Pratt will continue to make safety its primary consideration in all decision-making and will rely on the most up-to-date scientific information to make informed decisions about the fall semester.

Pratt has announced its vaccine requirement months in advance of the fall 2021 semester so its community will have time to gather information, consult with their health care providers, and take other steps to inform themselves of their choices. The three vaccines that have been deemed safe and effective for Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) are the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine, and the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. This guidance can also be applied to COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) (see the WHO site for the latest list of authorized vaccines).

The CDC has detailed information on the vaccines including how they are being monitored for their safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality that supports this emergency use. The benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine include prevention of serious illness, hospitalization, and death from the virus.

Pratt strongly encourages its students to make every effort to get vaccinated before they arrive in New York. If that is not a possibility, New York State’s vaccination eligibility now includes all United States residents 12 years of age and older, as well as non-residents (including international students). All students will be eligible to be vaccinated under these New York State guidelines.

The vaccine is free to everyone who is eligible. New York State has an online tool to schedule an appointment at a New York State-run vaccination site. Appointments can also be scheduled by calling New York State’s hotline at 1-833-697-4829. Some vaccination sites are accepting walk-ins. Find a city or state-run site near you for walk-in information.

The Back to Pratt COVID-19 Vaccine page has further information including vaccination appointment tips, different methods to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in New York City, and useful websites and numbers.

Students, faculty, or staff members who cannot be vaccinated before arriving in New York, or who have only received one dose of a two-dose vaccine, or who have not met the requirements of full vaccination, must follow these guidelines:

• Submit a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior to their arrival on campus or to the residence halls.
• Participate in weekly COVID-19 testing until fully vaccinated. After the initial test is completed prior to arrival, ongoing COVID-19 testing will be provided by Pratt at no cost. Detailed instructions on weekly testing will be shared with these members of the community before the start of the semester.
• Have the first vaccine dose within the first week of the semester (or arrival in the residence halls) and submit proof using your OneKey ID. Those waiting for a second dose must schedule an appointment as soon as possible based on their individual dose regimen.

The CDC recommends taking a photograph of your vaccination card as a backup copy. This will capture all your data if you lose your card. If you did not receive a COVID-19 vaccination card at your appointment, contact the vaccination provider site where you were vaccinated or your state health department to find out how to get a card.

The CDC does not have vaccination record information. Instead, they recommend contacting the operational immunization information system (IIS) in the state where you received your vaccination. It’s also recommended that you contact your vaccination site for a potential replacement and bring your ID as well as the dates you were vaccinated. If you were vaccinated at two different places, it's recommended you return to the site where you got your second dose.

Pratt’s students, faculty, and staff who have a religious or medical exemption from being vaccinated and will be accessing campus should take the following steps:

• Submit your request for exemption using the online form.
• Submit a negative COVID-19 test seven days prior to accessing campus.
• Participate in weekly COVID-19 testing throughout your time on campus.

Students in this category should contact Health Services (health@pratt.edu) with any questions while faculty and staff should contact benefits@pratt.edu.

Students with exemptions who will not be accessing campus can make progress towards their degrees online.

Do not delay vaccination if it is available to you. With the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines in New York, international students who cannot receive a vaccine before arrival will be able to do so upon entering the United States. Pratt will assist international students in complying with the Institute’s requirements as needed.

Yes. Pratt is accepting vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) (see the WHO site for the latest list of authorized vaccines) as well as those authorized for such use by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.

Currently, the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. The CDC states that people who were vaccinated outside the United States with an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine and have received all the recommended doses do not need any additional doses. People who received the first dose of an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine that requires two doses while abroad do not need to restart the vaccine series in the United States but should receive the second dose as close to the recommended time as possible.

This guidance can also be applied to COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization. Pratt is closely monitoring the changes in guidance from the FDA and WHO as well as the list of accepted vaccines.

For international students, Pratt is accepting vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) (see the WHO site for the latest list of authorized vaccines) as well as those authorized for such use by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.

At this time no other vaccines will be accepted for campus access. However, students who have received vaccines that are not approved can still access the campus by arriving with a negative COVID-19 test and adhering to a regimen of weekly testing until their vaccine is approved.

Pratt is continuing to watch WHO and FDA approval determinations and the Back to Pratt website will be updated in response to any changes in their guidance.

While there is currently no guidance from the WHO or CDC on additional COVID-19 vaccinations, Pratt is closely following these updates and will keep our community apprised.

The CDC states that there is no data available on the safety or efficacy of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine currently authorized in the United States after receipt of a non-FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine. Please see the latest information on the CDC website.

Yes, Pratt is requiring that all of its students be fully vaccinated by the time they arrive on campus, including to live in the residence halls. Any student who cannot be vaccinated prior to arrival will need to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours prior to arrival and test weekly until fully vaccinated.

All students, faculty, and staff who will be on campus in fall 2021 must submit their vaccination information ahead of their arrival. Deadlines will be provided soon. In the meantime, we strongly encourage getting vaccinated and submitting your results as soon as possible. The process to submit this information can be found on our vaccine page.

Yes, you can register for classes before vaccination. Proof of vaccination will be required before coming onto campus or entering the residence halls. Residence students who can not meet this requirement will follow the outlined testing process prior to vaccination.

Pratt’s vaccine requirements for fall 2021 do not apply to students who will be learning remotely in the fall. These students will be able to make progress toward their degrees through online classes.

Students choosing not to study on campus in fall 2021 and students who will not be vaccinated at that time will have remote options for making progress towards their degrees.

However, Pratt strongly encourages each member of its community, whether they are spending time on campus or not, to be vaccinated to combat the spread of COVID-19.

No, Pratt’s vaccine requirement begins in fall 2021. For spring the guidelines for a negative COVID-19 test will remain in place for accessing campus. For summer, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will be accepted for campus access.

Pratt’s vaccine requirement for fall 2021 does not apply to students, faculty, and staff who are continuing to work and study remotely. However, Pratt strongly encourages every member of its community to be vaccinated to combat the ongoing spread of COVID-19.

No, whether you are vaccinated or waiting to be vaccinated when you arrive in New York, you are not required to quarantine. This applies to both domestic and international students as well as any arriving faculty and staff. This is based on the current New York State guidelines.

Pharmacies participating in a federal vaccine distribution program are setting aside any residency requirements for vaccinations. This will allow college students who got their first shot in New York to get their second dose at home or elsewhere, as well as students who got their first dose in their home state to get their second dose upon arriving in New York.

Yes, Pratt’s requirement for fall 2021 is a COVID-19 vaccination. As the CDC advises, vaccinations are recommended for people regardless of their history of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, including a positive antibody test.

Regardless of prior infection, vaccine status, or your perceived safety around classmates or coworkers, all students, faculty, and staff must adhere to these core health habits: Wear a mask when recommended, maintain physical distance, wash your hands, and stay home if you are sick. Follow the guidelines of the social contract that uphold the wellbeing of the whole Pratt community. More health and safety guidance is available on the Back to Pratt website.

Pratt students, faculty, and staff (including those who are currently working remotely) can upload their vaccination proof into our secure database for contact tracing purposes, proof of eligibility for using the vaccination day accrual, and to aggregate data about the progress our community has made towards vaccination against COVID-19. These are the steps:

• Login to the vaccine form using your OneKey ID.
• Be prepared to upload a clear image of your vaccination proof that shows your name, vaccine information, and vaccination date.
• Select the vaccination brand you received and indicate the date(s) that you received the vaccination. If this is the first dose, you will also have to submit the second dose with proof of its administration.
• Click the submit button. You will receive a confirmation email of your submission. Once your submission is reviewed, you will receive a subsequent email about your submission status (whether approved or rejected).

Please note: the due date for uploading your vaccine proof for the fall semester is July 30 to allow time for processing before the start of classes.

Yes, Pratt is offering its staff up to four hours of excused leave per injection that will not be charged against any other leave. This is in compliance with all New York Labor Laws, including 196-C, which provides for paid time off (PTO) to receive COVID-19 vaccine injections. Read more about this policy on our vaccine policy page.

Each member of our community has a responsibility to be safe for the whole Institute and no matter the circumstances Pratt is committed to this collective cooperation for the healthiest campus possible. The social contract holds our community members accountable with expectations for individual actions including vaccination.

The social contract for students, faculty, and staff is an extension of Pratt’s Community Standards and violations will be addressed by staff, faculty, RAs, security, and fellow students as usual. Any violations will be adjudicated as are all policy violations, however, it should be noted that violations where one’s actions cause potential harm to another or the community are dealt with more serious consequences/limitations. It is critical that all members of the community think through their decisions regarding the social contract as each decision will not only put others at physical risk, it may have student conduct repercussions.

No. If you uploaded your vaccination proof to the vaccine form and it was approved, you have met the requirements for the fall 2021 semester.

Pratt is not distributing the COVID-19 vaccine. Please see the COVID-19 Vaccine page on Back to Pratt for links to information on the New York City and State distribution of the vaccine, including the developing guidelines on the New York State Department of Health (DOH) website.

Check your vaccine eligibility and find a vaccination site near you. NYC Health has the latest information on eligibility in New York State, while the CDC has detailed information on the COVID-19 vaccination, including patient education for each specific vaccine.

Visit Pratt’s “Health and Safety” page for the latest guidance on slowing the spread of infection, including social distancing, when to wear a mask and how to wear it correctly, and washing your hands.

The CDC recommends that everyone gets vaccinated for the flu, takes everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs, cleans and disinfects frequently touched objects, and takes medications if they are prescribed. While the current flu vaccine has no impact on COVID-19, it is still advised that everyone receives the vaccine.