University Releases Vaccination Requirements for International Students, Faculty, Researchers

With COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for all employees and students returning regularly to campus for the Fall 2021 semester, the University of Maryland yesterday released guidelines to help international students, faculty and scholars comply with requirements.

UMD will accept proof of vaccination with vaccines that have been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as vaccines that have been authorized by national regulatory agencies in other countries, according to a letter from University Health Center Director Dr. Spyrodon Marinopoulos, Associate Vice President of International Affairs Ross Lewin and Associate Provost and Graduate School Dean Steve Fetter.

While the university will not accept vaccines given as part of clinical trials or that have been authorized by regulatory agencies in other countries but have been evaluated and rejected by WHO, they urged vaccination with medications available to people in their home countries.

“We want to stress the importance of getting vaccinated as soon as possible with a vaccine that is currently available to you in your home country and not wait to be vaccinated until you arrive in the United States,” they wrote.

The university will follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for newly arriving international students including:

• Those who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine authorized for emergency use by the FDA or the WHO must be tested with a viral (PCR) test within three to five days of arrival on campus. No quarantine will be required.
• Those who have received a vaccine that has not been authorized by the FDA or the WHO must be tested with a viral (PCR) test within three to five days of arrival and must self-quarantine for seven days upon arrival even if the test result is negative. Those who are unable to be tested must self-quarantine for 10 days.

For those who have not received a WHO-authorized vaccine by the time of arrival for the Fall 2021 semester, the university reserves the right to request an additional FDA-authorized vaccination to ensure the safety of the campus community, they said.

In addition, those who have not been vaccinated prior to traveling to the United States must be tested with a viral (PCR) test within three to five days of arrival and must self-quarantine for seven days upon arrival even if the test result is negative. Those who are unable to be tested must self-quarantine for 10 days, and should make arrangements to be vaccinated in the United States immediately upon completion of their self-quarantine.

The university plans to make vaccinations available to all newly arriving faculty, staff and students who need to be vaccinated. You can find information on where and how to get vaccinated on the university’s COVID-19 vaccine information web page.

PCR testing and vaccinations for members of the University of Maryland community will be available on or near campus throughout the summer and fall. For more information on dates, times and availability, check 4Maryland.

Questions about vaccination requirements should be directed to healthconcerns@umd.edu.