2020-21 Academic Year

Vaccination Eligibility Updates, Summer Travel Policy and Quarantine Guidelines

April 09, 2021

Dear Students,

I hope that you’re enjoying the warming weather and final days of classes!

Whether or not you are vaccinated, it’s still important to continue practicing protective behaviors that have been effective throughout the pandemic: wearing a face covering, physically distancing, following testing protocols and avoiding nonessential travel. While we’re making progress, the risks of the pandemic are still very present:

  • New York State currently has the fifth highest national COVID-19 rate
  • New York City’s positivity rate remains around 6.6%
  • Researchers continue to follow variants' impact on COVID-19 spread in New York City

With warmer temperatures and the semester winding down, it can be tempting to let our guards down, but it is critical that we continue to #KeepTheCompact and keep ourselves and our surrounding communities safe.

Vaccine Updates
Currently, everyone over the age of 16 is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in New York State. Columbia’s vaccine supply is still limited and subject to distribution from the City and State. While the University is endeavoring to make sure we offer the vaccine to our affiliates, it may be several weeks before the supply meets the demand. In the interim, you may wish to pursue vaccinations at other sites by visiting COVID-19 Vaccine Finder or calling one of these numbers: (877) VAX- 4NYC (1-877-829-4692) for New York City or (833) NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829) for appointments elsewhere in the State.

There are several ways to make an appointment online at Columbia locations. Please remember that our supply is limited and appointments are released periodically, so check these sites often:

  • Morningside campus appointments can be made through Columbia Health. You can book an appointment via the scheduling section of the Columbia Health Patient Portal. All appointments are considered tentative and subject to vaccine availability.
  • CUIMC and other locations appointments can be made via Vaccinetogetherny.org or through your Connect account (if you use ColumbiaDoctors providers). The locations include: the Armory at 169th and Fort Washington Avenue and 650 W 168th Street. As of 4/13 appointments will also be available at 51 West 51st Street, and on 4/20, at 2702 Broadway.

We also encourage you to check Columbia’s COVID-19 website for updates.

Summer Travel Policy
Summer travel restrictions have been announced and go into effect on 6/1. They include guidance for personal and Columbia-related travel for graduate and undergraduate students. I encourage you to review it carefully.

Quarantine Guidelines
Currently, travelers arriving in New York from another state are no longer required to quarantine, though New York State is still recommending that all asymptomatic domestic travelers quarantine for either 7 days with a test 3-5 days after travel or 10 days without a test. Remember, there’s always free testing available on campus.

If you’ve traveled outside the country, you are still subject to CDC and New York State/City quarantine requirements. For more information on these travel requirements and recommendations, see the University’s COVID-19 Public Health Protocols website.

As always, please write to me at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns. I wish you a wonderful weekend!

Take care,

Joseph Defraine Greenwell, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Office of University Life
Gender Pronouns: He/Him/His

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