New Booster Shot Vaccine Requirement

Dear Northeastern community,   

As we continue to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination remains the most effective protection against the virus. The FDA has approved a COVID-19 booster shot in the U.S. for anyone ages 18 and older— and the latest scientific evidence suggests that a booster shot offers significant improvement in protection against the Omicron variant.

Booster Shot Requirement   

Based on this new evidence, Northeastern is updating its safety and wellness requirements to include booster shots:   

• All faculty and staff who work at one of Northeastern University’s U.S. campuses, and all students attending or visiting a U.S. campus, are required to receive a booster shot by January 18, 2022, or seven days after they become eligible. If you received Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna and are ages 18 or older, you are eligible at least six months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series. If you received Johnson & Johnson and are ages 18 or older, you are eligible at least two months after receiving your vaccine.   
• The requirement applies to faculty and staff who have alternative work arrangements and who work or teach fully remotely.   
• Documentation of the booster shot will be required by January 18 for those who are eligible. For those who become eligible after January 18, documentation will be required seven days after they become eligible.
• Details on how to upload booster shot documentation or how to request an exemption are forthcoming.   
• Faculty and staff who fail to comply with Northeastern’s vaccine booster requirement may be placed on unpaid administrative leave. Students who fail to comply may have a hold placed on their account.   
  

Booster Shot Vaccine Clinic in Boston   

To promote convenient access to booster shots, Northeastern will hold booster shot vaccine clinics on December 14 and 16 on the Boston campus.   

• When will the clinics take place?  The clinics will take place on Tuesday, December 14 from 12:00 to 7:00 pm and on Thursday, December 16 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, at Cabot Testing Center on the Boston campus.  
• Which vaccines are available? Both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna booster shots will be available.   
• How can I schedule my appointment?  Please use the scheduling link from our partner, Pelmeds, to schedule your appointment for December 14 or December 16. Allow 30 minutes for your appointment so you can remain at the vaccine site for 15 minutes of monitoring after your dose.   
• Who is eligible to schedule?  All members of the Northeastern community—faculty, staff, and students—who are eligible for a booster shot are able to schedule their appointment.    
• What should I bring to my appointment?  Please bring your insurance information and vaccination card so the team can update your card’s information.   

If the time and location of this clinic isn’t convenient, we urge you to check local vaccine providers to schedule at another time.  Anyone in Massachusetts can search for available booster shot locations through the Massachusetts Vaxfinder website. Pharmacies across the United States also carry and administer booster shots. The CDC’s Vaccines.gov website is a great resource as well.  

You may also find information regarding COVID-19 booster shots in locations across Northeastern’s global network including Massachusetts, California, Washington, Maine, North Carolina, Virginia, British Columbia, Ontario, and the United Kingdom. 

Please note that the FDA and the CDC have authorized heterologous boosters often referred to as “mixing and matching” vaccines. For instance, if you originally received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, you can now receive a booster from either Pfizer or Moderna.  

As always, you can stay informed about Northeastern’s COVID-19 protocols and view the latest information at news-northeastern-edu.go-vip.net/coronavirus.  

Thank you for continuing to take these important steps to keep our community safe.     

Sincerely,   

Kenneth W. Henderson 
Chancellor and Senior Vice President for Learning