Vaccine Requirement FAQs

Does Dominican require students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19?

Yes. Dominican University requires all of our community members to be vaccinated for COVID-19. This includes faculty, staff, and students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs who intend to be on campus for any period of time. Medical and religious accommodations will be considered; please see below.

Why is Dominican requiring the campus community to be vaccinated?

Vaccines have proven safe and effective, and are a critical tool in stopping the COVID-19 pandemic. Requiring vaccination is the best means of ensuring the safety and well-being of our campus community while maintaining a face-to-face learning experience.

Which vaccines meet Dominican’s vaccination requirement?

Any vaccine authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO) meets Dominican’s vaccine requirement, including Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

Where can students sign up to receive a vaccine?

There are multiple ways to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Find a list of current options on our Vaccine Access page.

By when do students need to be vaccinated?

New incoming students should be fully vaccinated and report their vaccination status via the Wellness Center Online Portal by August 1. Resident students must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination prior to their move-in date. You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks following either the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the second dose of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

Do students enrolled in an online-only program still need to be vaccinated?

Students in 100% online programs who do not plan to come to campus are exempt from this requirement except when required by outside agencies for internship purposes, such as students in the MSW program. Due to agency requirements, these students will have to submit proof of vaccination. Religious and medical exemptions can be requested.

However, if you intend to come to campus for any reason (use the library, attend student event, etc.), you will need to test within 72 hours of coming to campus, upload a negative result to the COVID tracker and get approval from Student Success & Engagement by emailing sse@dom.edu.

How do students report their vaccination status?

Students should upload their completed vaccination cards to the Wellness Center’s online portal.

Are there exceptions to the vaccination requirement?

Yes, medical or religious exemptions will be considered. Students requesting a medical or religious exemption to immunizations, including the COVID-19 vaccination, must complete the Illinois Certificate of Medical or Religious Exemption Form; this form is available online at the Wellness Center's webpage. The form must be signed by the student and their health care provider and submitted to the Wellness Center. For more information, contact the Wellness Center at wellness@dom.edu.

What are the approved medical reasons to receive an exemption to the vaccine requirement?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided information on medical contraindications related to COVID-19 vaccines. Your personal medical provider should help determine whether you have a medical reason to not be vaccinated. Please contact the Wellness Center by emailing wellness@dom.edu to discuss medical reasons to not be vaccinated. 

Can students be exempted from the vaccine for non-religious, non-medical reasons?

Dominican’s policy requires that all students submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination. If you are concerned about the safety or effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, we recommend that you review the vaccine guidance on the CDC’s website.

Do students need to be vaccinated if they have already been diagnosed with COVID-19? What happens if someone contracts COVID-19 too closely to the deadline to get vaccinated before arriving on campus?

Yes, all students are required to be vaccinated, even if they have already had COVID-19. 

Students are encouraged get vaccinated as soon as possible to avoid this situation. Students who are not able to meet the vaccination requirement due to a recent COVID diagnosis will be required to get vaccinated as soon as they have met the appropriate window of time post-diagnosis. Students in this scenario should contact the Wellness Center for a temporary waiver.

Will vaccinated resident students need to tested before move-in?

No. Vaccinated students will not be required to test for COVID-19 prior to move-in, in accordance with the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

If I have more questions about Dominican’s COVID-19 vaccination policy. Who should I ask?

If you have additional questions regarding Dominican’s COVID-19 vaccination policy, please email sse@dom.edu.