COVID-19 Care, Testing, and Vaccination Protocols

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the scope of its impact are expanding. Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) asks for your assistance in minimizing risk and utilizing resources in the most efficient manner.  

Online scheduling has been re-enabled, but we are still not taking walk-ins. We are screening patients for in-clinic appointments only. We have launched telehealth as a measure of providing care while also following public health guidance on social distancing.

UCSF COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling for Students

UCSF is phasing the vaccinations to members of the UCSF community based on public health guidance, starting with those at highest risk for exposure to COVID-19.

Over the next few months as the vaccine supplies become more widely available, vaccines will be available free of charge to all UCSF and Benioff Children’s Hospital (BCH) Oakland employees and learners who choose to be vaccinated*.

These vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective. UCSF encourages everyone to be vaccinated when they become eligible.

Please visit the UCSF COVID-19 Vaccine Information Hub and the SHCS COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs for more information on vaccine scheduling and more. 

*Students who opt to receive the COVID-19 vaccination may upload their vaccination record into the immunization records section in the MyHealthRecord Student Portal.

Asymptomatic Testing Program

The UCSF COVID-19 Asymptomatic testing portal has opened. The portal survey will help determine if, where, and when you should get a COVID-19 test. Students who have engaged in domestic travel, high-risk activities, have sustained low-risk exposures, or need testing for procedures or clinical rotations will be able to obtain testing through this pathway. This is NOT a replacement for the Daily Symptom Screener, which is still required to access UCSF facilities.

Students with symptoms, household or other high-risk exposure, or returning from international travel may not use this portal. Please send a secure message to the SHCS COVID-19 nurse for further instructions.

Please observe care-seeking protocols regarding the following scenarios:

The best advice right now is to stay at least 6 feet apart from people who do not live in your household. Only leave your home for essential activities. Wear a mask and avoid touching your face when you must be in public. Wash hands frequently and carry hand sanitizer. 

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

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The questions below relate to the COVID-19 vaccine specifically within the scope of UCSF Student Health and Counseling Services.

    • No, SHCS is not involved in the scheduling or administration of the COVID-19 vaccines. You cannot get the vaccine through SHCS.

    • Vaccination appointments will be managed by UCSF Health through MyChart, a secure, confidential patient portal on the APeX system. Those who are not currently MyChart users will receive an email invitation when they are eligible to schedule a vaccination with instructions to help activate a MyChart account.

    • All UCSF students will be automatically included in UCSF’s vaccination program. Students do not have to take any action in order to be eligible for vaccination.

    • Students will be notified as soon as they are eligible to schedule a vaccination appointment based on their level of risk to exposure. Individuals will not receive a scheduling notification until it's their turn to be vaccinated based on their risk of exposure to COVID-19 at work.

    • Please note that vaccination appointments must be scheduled within 72 hours after receiving a MyChart invitation. Those who miss this window or choose to postpone a vaccine, will be able to schedule an appointment at a later date, subject to timing of vaccine availability.

    • You must be have Campus Entry Clearance in order to come to campus on the day of your appointment to receive your vaccine. The morning of your appointment, complete the daily symptom screener by texting "SCREEN" to 839-73. If you are currently under a quarantine because of contact with a positive COVID case, you must reschedule your vaccination. Please follow this important safety measure to keep yourself and all bodies present on campus safe.

    • If you have received the vaccine anywhere other than through UCSF (including out of state), you should submit documentation to Student Health and Counseling Services. This can be done by going to MyHealthRecord Student Portal Login, selecting the “Immunizations” tab, and then clicking the “Upload Immunization Records” to add documentation.

    • No. The Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine should be administered alone with at least 14 days of separation before or after any other vaccine is given. There is currently no information on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines when administered at the same time as other vaccines. However, if one of the COVID-19 vaccines is accidentally administered within 14 days of another vaccine, there is no need for either vaccine to be repeated.

    • o You may return to work if your symptoms after vaccination do not last more than 48 hours and you have not had a fever in 24 hours.
      o For symptoms that either last more than 48 hours or begin more than 48 hours after the vaccine: send a secure message to the COVID nurse through MyHealthRecord.
      o If your symptoms have occurred or are occurring outside of the 48 hour vaccine window, you may require a COVID test prior to returning to work.

    • If you have access to receive a COVID vaccine, it is advisable to get it for your protection during the pandemic. As the data is published in the coming year, we will be able to advise if a repeat series with Pfizer or Moderna is clinically indicated or not for those who receive an alternate vaccine. See page 9 of the FAQs from UCOP Interim COVID-19 vaccine policy. Note that students may opt out of receiving the vaccine and UC has not yet specified which authorized or licensed vaccine is preferred.

    • An email address has been setup on the UCSF vaccine hub to respond to additional questions: [email protected]