All students are required to provide proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination (as defined by the CDC) prior to the start of their first term on campus. Vaccinations must be authorized by the World Health Organization in order to qualify; international students should reference the CDC’s guidance for people vaccinated outside the United States for further information.

The college follows Oregon law in permitting students to request exemption from this vaccination requirement for medical or non-medical reasons.

Information about vaccine requirements as well as how to request an exemption can be found on the HCC's Immunization Information page. Students are required to upload documentation of their COVID-19 vaccinations or exemption to the Health and Counseling Center portal, following these instructions.

All Reed employees should be up-to-date with World Health Organization authorized COVID-19 vaccinations and provide a copy of their records to Human Resources using the Etrieve vaccine verification tool. This tool will ask you to report the type, date, and state in which you received your vaccine and attach a photo of your COVID-19 vaccination record.

The COVID-19 vaccine is an important tool to help stop the pandemic. Getting vaccinated helps to protect yourself, your friends, your family, your coworkers, and your community. Individuals who receive the COVID-19 vaccine will help the Reed community thrive together and thrive in person. We encourage you to read about the many health benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

We highly recommend that you review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 vaccines website for the most current and comprehensive information on COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States.

If you are living, studying, or working in Oregon, we recommend that you review the COVID-19 Vaccine in Oregon website.

If you are a student who is not from Oregon but is in Oregon for college, you can become vaccinated in Oregon. For more information on finding a vaccine outside of Oregon, visit "How Do I Find a COVID-19 Vaccine?" on the CDC website.

Reed does not recommend one vaccine over another, but requires students, employees, and visitors to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination with a vaccine that has been authorized by the World Health Organization.

The CDC provides information on who is and is not advised to receive each vaccine and what to expect after vaccination. The CDC also notes each vaccine’s ingredients, safety, and effectiveness. We recommend that you carefully review the CDC website regarding the authorized and recommended vaccines in the United States.

Yes, individuals should be vaccinated regardless of whether they have already had COVID-19. If you have had COVID-19 and have questions about your vaccination situation, see the CDC website for more information and consult with your primary care provider.

Yes, domestic and international students studying in Oregon are eligible for the vaccine in Oregon.

Yes, international students are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines while in the United States. 

It is important to note that the United States will only distribute vaccines that have been approved or received emergency-use designation by the FDA. Other countries may be using the same or different vaccines, as there are numerous vaccines available globally.

If an international student has a specific question about their circumstances, we recommend they reach out to the Health and Counseling Center at health-services@reed.edu.

Students in these situations or with other extenuating vaccine circumstances should reach out to Reed's Health and Counseling Center (HCC) via email or secure message in the student health portal to discuss and develop an individualized plan.

The vaccine will not impact test results that diagnose someone with COVID-19, such as the results of PCR or rapid antigen tests. As with all vaccines, there is a chance of a “vaccine breakthrough”—in other words, that a vaccinated individual exposed to the virus can develop COVID-19. In this situation, a vaccinated individual may test positive.

The COVID-19 vaccine may cause an individual to test positive with a COVID-19 antibody test. Antibody tests are not used to diagnose someone with COVID-19; rather, they are used to determine if someone has antibodies to respond to COVID-19, developed either through previous infection or through vaccination.

Yes. As with all vaccines, there is a small chance of a “vaccine breakthrough”—in other words, that a vaccinated individual exposed to the virus can develop COVID-19. Therefore, a vaccinated individual with COVID-like symptoms should isolate at home while symptomatic and reach out to their healthcare provider for evaluation and testing.