The university strongly recommends that all students be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccines are safe, effective, and free. Being fully vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and gives you the best chance for a full college experience.
An appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine on-campus may be scheduled here:
UT Campus COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
COVID-19 Vaccines are readily available throughout the community, both on-campus and off-campus. Vaccines are available Monday through Friday at the Student Health Center Pharmacy. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also accepted based on vaccine availability. Moderna vaccine appointments are offered Monday through Wednesday and the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine is offered on Thursdays. The Moderna vaccine will be offered on a walk-in basis on Fridays based on availability.
The Student Health Center will also host vaccination clinics at various campus locations throughout the academic year. Campus vaccination opportunities will be posted on the campus events calendar as well as through UT publications such as Tennessee Today and Vol Update.
The Pfizer and Novavax vaccines are not available at the Student Health Center. If you need, or prefer, one of those vaccines or if the SHC Pharmacy hours are not convenient for you, please see Off-campus COVID-19 Vaccine Access below for additional vaccine access options.
The following information pertains to COVID-19 Vaccines and obtaining:
- Booster doses
- An additional dose in those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised
- A primary vaccine series or dose for those not yet immunized
***COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters***
COVID-19 boosters are available through the Student Health Center.
COVID-19 vaccine booster doses do not have to be the same vaccine received with the primary vaccine series. In most cases, eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. More information on the CDC’s recommendation for booster doses and a tool to determine your eligibility are available through the CDC.
As the Pfizer vaccine is not available through the SHC Vaccine Clinics or Pharmacy, those desiring a Pfizer vaccine booster may do so through an off-campus vaccine provider. See Off-campus COVID-19 Vaccine Access below.
For Prior Moderna or Pfizer Primary Vaccine Series Recipients
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred for boosters in most situations. Although mRNA vaccines are preferred, J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations.
Initial Booster Dose:
All individuals who received an mRNA vaccine primary series are eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose at least 5 months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series.
Second Booster Dose:
The CDC has updated its recommendations to allow certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago to be eligible for a second mRNA booster to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19.
For Prior Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) Primary Vaccine Recipients
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred for boosters in most situations. Although mRNA vaccines are preferred, J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations.
Initial Booster Dose:
All individuals who received Johnson & Johnson/Janssen’s viral vector vaccine are also recommended to get an initial COVID-19 booster dose at least 2 months after receiving their J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination.
Second Booster Dose:
Additionally, based on newly published data, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
For Prior Other International Primary Vaccine Recipients
If you completed a Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine primary series outside of the United States you should follow the guidance noted above for booster doses.
Otherwise, if you were vaccinated abroad with other COVID-19 vaccines you can get an initial booster dose if you are 12 years or older and you either:
- Received all the recommended doses of a World Health Organization emergency use listing (WHO-EUL) COVID-19 vaccine, not approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or
- Completed a mix and match series composed of any combination of FDA-approved, FDA-authorized, or WHO-EUL COVID-19 vaccines
If you meet either of the above requirements you can get a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at least 5 months after getting all recommended doses or completing a mix and match COVID-19 vaccine series.
As the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is not available through the SHC Vaccine Clinics or Pharmacy, those needing a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster dose may do so through an off-campus vaccine provider. See Off-campus COVID-19 Vaccine Access below.
***Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised***
COVID-19 vaccine provided through the SHC is allocated by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH) and will be administered in accordance with CDC/TDOH guidance.
For Prior Moderna Primary Vaccine Series Recipients
Current CDC and TDOH guidance, advises moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals who received the Moderna vaccine for their initial two-dose vaccine series to receive an additional third Moderna vaccine dose.
This additional Moderna dose may be scheduled on-campus through our COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics or Pharmacy. See On-campus COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics below.
For Prior Pfizer Primary Vaccine Series Recipients
Current CDC and TDOH guidance, advises moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals who received the Pfizer vaccine for their initial two-dose vaccine series to receive an additional third Pfizer vaccine dose.
As the Pfizer vaccine is not available through the SHC Vaccine Clinics or Pharmacy, those who received the Pfizer vaccine for their initial two-dose vaccine series should receive their additional dose through an off-campus vaccine provider. See Off-campus COVID-19 Vaccine Access below.
***On-campus COVID-19 Primary Vaccine Series or Dose***
As the Pfizer vaccine is not available through the SHC Vaccine Clinics or Pharmacy, those desiring a Pfizer Primary Vaccine Series may do so through an off-campus vaccine provider. See Off-campus COVID-19 Vaccine Access below.
Moderna Primary Vaccine Series
The Student Health Center will continue to serve as a distribution site for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The Moderna vaccine is a two-dose vaccine delivered between 4-8 weeks apart. Individuals should speak with their vaccine provider to determine the optimal timing of their second dose. Two doses of this vaccine are required in order to be considered fully vaccinated. An additional third dose has been approved for moderately or severely immunocompromised who received the Moderna vaccine for their initial two-dose series and booster doses are also available to qualifying individuals as noted above.
Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) Primary Vaccine Dose
The Student Health Center will continue to serve as a distribution site for the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine. The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine is a single-dose vaccine. Recipients are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their vaccine. According to the FDA and CDC, women younger than 50 years old should be aware of the rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after receiving this vaccine. Other COVID-19 vaccines are available where this risk has not been seen.
People who have received the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine who develop a severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider.
If you have questions regarding the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine or its risks, please speak with a health care provider before receiving the vaccine.
Booster doses are also available to qualifying individuals as noted above.
On-campus COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics and Scheduling:
An appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine on-campus may be scheduled here:
UT Campus COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
You cannot schedule an on-campus COVID-19 vaccine appointment through the SHC Appointment Line nor the SHC Patient Portal. Please do not contact the SHC to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
For information about the UT Campus vaccine clinic location, directions, and parking, carefully read the information available at the above link. Call 865-974-5737 for assistance with existing appointments or details about the vaccination location for which you have an appointment.
Additional Resources & Forms:
Off-campus COVID-19 Vaccine Access:
If the date and time of the on-campus vaccine clinics do not fit with your schedule, you may find additional off-campus vaccination opportunities here:
State of Tennessee Vaccine Locator Tool.
With this tool, you can find locations in Knox County, and across the state, where the vaccines are being administered and schedule an appointment to receive yours.