COVID-19 Vaccination

The Georgia Department of Public Health has designated Kennesaw State University as a distribution site to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to all students, faculty, and staff during the spring and summer semesters of 2021. KSU will partner with Wellstar Health System to give the vaccinations to our campus population. Read the complete announcement from President Pamela Whitten.

For additional information, please visit the KSU COVID-19 website.

Phase 1 Update

During the week of January 11, KSU successfully began the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to the first phase of university faculty, staff and students. This phase included health care and public safety employees and individuals who are 65 years of age and older.
 
All faculty and staff received an email on January 14, that included a survey to determine the number of individuals interested in receiving the vaccine through KSU. Currently, we are awaiting direction from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) to move to the next stage of vaccination administration, Phase 1b, which will include all KSU faculty and staff. While we await this direction and additional details, it is imperative that employees respond to the survey as soon as possible so that we are prepared on day one to begin vaccinations. 
 
We have updated the FAQs below to include common questions we have received. If, after reviewing the FAQs, you still have questions or concerns, please email vaccine@kennesaw.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who will administer the vaccine?
  Clinical staff from Wellstar Health System, nursing students and volunteer faculty from KSU’s Wellstar School of Nursing will administer the vaccine.
• When will the COVID-19 vaccine be available?
  Following guidance developed by the Georgia Department of Public Health, KSU vaccinated employees and degree-seeking students age 65 and older and our Department of Public Safety employees (e.g., first responders) the week of January 11. The timing for future phases of vaccine administration is still to be determined.
• Explain KSU’s process for identifying members of the populations for the first phase.
  To develop our vaccine distribution plan, KSU is following guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health, including their recently issued guidance to expand phase 1A to include individuals age 65 and older, law enforcement, firefighters and first responders.
• Can I receive the COVID-19 vaccine on campus?
  Yes, KSU has been designated as a distribution site for the COVID-19 vaccine, enabling the vaccine to be administered on campus to students, faculty and staff. At this time, KSU and Wellstar are administering the vaccine in facilities located on the Kennesaw Campus.
• How will I know when I can receive the vaccine?
  For Employees: All employees have received a survey to their official Kennesaw State email account from KSU COVID Vaccine regarding their interest in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. If you complete the survey and affirm that you would like to receive the vaccine on campus, you will receive an email when it is time to schedule your vaccination appointments for the first and second doses. Should you indicate through the survey that you do not want to receive the vaccine at KSU, we cannot guarantee vaccine doses for you on campus if you change your mind. It is critical for individuals who are interested in receiving the vaccination to monitor their official Kennesaw State email account regularly.
   
  For Students: Based on Georgia Department of Public Health recommendations, we expect to vaccinate the general student body in later vaccination phases through the spring and summer semesters. In anticipation of the vaccine’s availability for future phases, students will receive a survey in their official Kennesaw State email account from KSU COVID Vaccine requesting information to determine those individuals interested in receiving the vaccine on campus. It is critical for individuals who are interested in being vaccinated to monitor their email account regularly and fill out the survey within 48 hours of receipt in order to ensure that we order an accurate number of doses needed by KSU.
• Which COVID-19 vaccine will KSU receive?

  There are currently two types of COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer & Moderna). As of now, KSU does not know which vaccine we will receive.

  Pfizer Fact Sheet

  Moderna Fact Sheet
• Is there a cost associated with receiving the vaccine?

  There will not be any out-of-pocket costs for individuals choosing to receive the vaccine on campus.

  There is a standard administrative fee for the vaccine that will be filed to your insurance for both doses. If you do not have insurance or your insurance denies the claim, the fee will be waived with no responsibility back to the individual.

• Am I required to get the vaccine?
  Although it is currently not required, all members of the KSU community are strongly encouraged to receive the vaccine as it is a critical component to “Protect the Nest” and help end the pandemic.
• I am an employee. Can I receive the vaccination during work hours?
  Yes, you can receive your vaccination during your regular work hours. While you do not need to submit a leave request, you should coordinate the time away with your manager to find one that works best given your responsibilities. Please allow approximately 30 minutes for your vaccination appointment.
• If I have a medical condition deemed as high risk, when will I be able to receive the vaccine on campus?
  Based on current Georgia Department of Public Health guidelines, the initial phase only included employees and students age 65 or older and Department of Public Safety employees (e.g., first responders). As for the timing of later phases, we will continue to follow Georgia DPH guidelines for vaccine distribution, which accounts for high-risk medical conditions.
• Will I be eligible to receive the vaccine on campus if I am a part-time faculty or staff member?
  Yes, part-time faculty and staff members will be eligible to receive the vaccine during the appropriate phase based on the Georgia Department of Public Health guidelines.
• I received my first dose of the vaccine off-campus. Can I schedule an appointment to receive my second dose on campus?
  No. In order to manage the limited inventory of vaccine, we are unable to only provide you with the second dose.
• Can retired faculty and staff ore emeritus status faculty receive the vaccine on campus?
  At this time, only current employed KSU faculty and staff members are eligible to receive the vaccine on campus.
• Will family members of faculty and staff be eligible to receive the vaccine?
  Not at this time. Initial phases of vaccine administration will only be for currently employed faculty, staff and students. 
• Why is the survey asking for personal/health information?
  This information will inform the future phases for the administration of the vaccine. All information gathered from the survey will remain confidential.
• Who will receive my personal/health information in the survey, and will it remain confidential?
  Your personal/health information will be received by Kennesaw State Human Resources and will only be shared as needed for the vaccine distribution. All information gathered from the survey will remain confidential.
• The survey is asking for my KSU ID #. How do I find that information if I don't know it?
  Your KSU ID # is located on your Talon Card. If you don't have your Talon Card, you can look up your KSU ID # using KSU ID # Lookup.
• Are you doing walk-in vaccinations?
  No. We are only administering vaccinations to people who have an appointment.
• What do I need to bring to my vaccination appointment?
  Please bring your government-issued photo ID and insurance card.

Keep Safe and United

While the vaccine is a critical component in ending the pandemic, here are a few things we are continuing to ask you to do to keep us all safe while we are on campus:

Updated January 15, 2021