Vaccine Available by Appointment
Students can receive free Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccinations at Student Health Service. Call 701-231-7331 to schedule your appointment.
Vaccine Mandate on hold
A nationwide injunction has suspended the contractor vaccine mandate. Based on this injunction, NDSU is immediately putting its employee vaccine mandate on hold pending further legal instruction.
We will continue to keep the campus informed as this fluid legal situation evolves.
You do not need to submit vaccine verification or exemption requests during this time period.
Informational Videos:
Are COVID-19 vaccines safe?
Delta and COVID-19 vaccines
North Dakota Vaccine Plan, Finder and Dashboard
Please click here for vaccine information from the North Dakota Department of Health, including the North Dakota vaccine plan, and dashboard.
Fargo Cass Public Health
Information about COVID-19 vaccine clinics hosted by FCPH, including important health and safety information, is available on its website: www.FargoCassPublicHealth.com/covidvaccine.
Members of the community are encouraged to rely on credible sources for reliable information about COVID-19 vaccine. Both the North Dakota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide information on this important topic.
Why do college students need to get vaccinated?
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Why college students should get a COVID-19 vaccine |
- Many young people will experience persistent COVID symptoms months after their initial illness.
- Young adults are responsible for most of COVID-19 spread.
- College students congregate in group settings where the COVID-19 virus can easily spread.
- The Omicron Variant, which is responsible for nearly all cases in ND, is highly contagious (may cause more than 3x as many infections as Delta).
- Getting vaccinated will prevent infections and help limit the spread of disease, keeping college students and staff safe.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe!
- The CDC recommended the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) as the preferred vaccines. The FDA has given full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which is the FDA’s strongest endorsement of safety and efficacy.
- It is normal to have some side effects after receiving the vaccine. Side effects are typically mild and include injection site pain, swelling or redness, mild fever, chills, fatigue, headache and muscle and joint aches. These will usually go away in a day or two.
- While COVID-19 vaccines have been linked to rare, more serious side effects, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks associated with COVID-19.
- There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine can lead to infertility. For more information about vaccines and infertility, visit www.health.nd.gov/C19vaccine-and-infertility.
COVID-19 vaccines are effective!
No vaccine is 100% effective. However, COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and those around you from this virus (including the Omicron variant). The vaccines continue to provide significant protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death; a majority of recent COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths are among unvaccinated people.
COVID-19 vaccines are free!
There should be no out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 vaccine. It is possible that health care providers may charge a fee to administer the vaccine; health insurance will cover any potential fee. Those who are uninsured and/or unable to pay the administration fee will not be turned away.
You need the COVID vaccine, even if you already had COVID.
The CDC recommends that everyone be vaccinated, regardless of whether they already had COVID-19 because:
- Many individuals who have had COVID are being reinfected with the omicron variant. Vaccination provides additional protection against reinfection.
- COVID-19 vaccines provide a stronger and more consistent immune response than natural infection.
- It is nearly impossible to predict who is at risk for reinfection among previous positives.
- Being vaccinated may protect you against the variant strains of COVID.
Should I get a COVID-19 booster?
Booster doses are now recommended for everyone 12 and older. You should receive a booster >5 months after your primary series if you received Moderna; >5 months after your primary series if you received Pfizer; and >2 months after your primary series if you received Johnson & Johnson. If you are 18 or older, you may choose which COVID-19 vaccine you receive as a booster shot.
New data suggests protection offered by the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines may be waning over time and may be waning over time and may be less effective against new variants, like Omicron. Boosters have been shown to boost your immunity and provide the best protection against Omicron. For more information on boosters visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html
How else can college students help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
Other ways to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 include wearing a face mask, practicing social distancing of at least 6 feet, avoiding large gatherings, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, minimizing touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and washing your hands frequently with soap and water.
Where can I learn more?
For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, visit www.ndsu.edu/centers/immunize or www.health.nd.gov/immunization-guidance-public.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prepare for the COVID-19 vaccine?
Wear clothing that allows the clinician to easily access your upper arm. Consider wearing a short-sleeved shirt or wear a short-sleeved shirt under a sweater or jacket that can be easily removed.
What happens right after I get the vaccine?
You will be asked to wait 15 minutes in an observation area to monitor for any reactions.
What are common side effects after vaccination?
Common side effects from vaccination include pain, swelling or redness where the shot was given, a mild fever, chills, fatigue, headache, and muscle and joint aches.
Can I take pain medicine (e.g. acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) to manage the side effects of COVID-19 vaccination? The CDC has stated that patients can take pain medication after their vaccination if they feel side effects (e.g. pain, headache, or fever that cannot be tolerated). It is not recommended for individuals to take pain medication in anticipation of potential side effects prior to their vaccine.
Can people who have had COVID-19 receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Yes. Vaccination is offered to all individuals, regardless of their history of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Are there reasons to not get the vaccine?
- If you have recently had COVID-19. You should be recovered and have completed your isolation period before getting the vaccine. Isolation is generally 10 days but may be longer.
- If you were exposed to COVID-19, wait 14 days from your exposure. If you haven’t developed symptoms after 14 days, you may get the vaccine.
- Wait 90 days if you have received convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19.
- For more information related to the benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine please see the Center for Disease Control Website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html
We will provide any information we get about possible events if that becomes available. In the meantime, individuals may choose to contact their own health care providers for more information.