Vaccine Availability and Distribution
The university strongly encourages everyone to be vaccinated. The State of Florida has made vaccines widely available to everyone medically eligible.
USF Health continues to offer vaccines and boosters at the Morsani Clinic (13330 USF Laurel Drive). Faculty and staff can make an appointment by emailing covidvaccine@usf.edu. The Morsani Clinic also accepts walk-ins during specific times. Established USF Health patients can make a vaccine appointment through MyChart.
Student Health Services on all three USF campuses offers the vaccine and boosters to students for no cost/low-cost medical services covered by student fees. Complete an intake form or call 813-974-2331 for an appointment.
PATIENTS AGED 5-11
Beginning November 9, 2021, COVID vaccines are available to new and established patients aged 5-11 at the Morsani Vaccine Clinic on the 6th Floor. Appointments can be scheduled by emailing covidvaccine@usf.edu. Established USF Health patients can make a vaccine appointment through MyChart. Walk-ins welcome.
Vaccine Booster Shots
USF offers COVID-19 booster shots to all eligible individuals who received the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible individuals, who received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can receive a booster as long as it has been at least six months since their last dose. Eligible individuals, who received the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine can receive a booster shot if it is at least two months since the primary dose.
Per the US FDA and CDC guidance to allow mix and match booster doses, eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. USF is able to provide the Pfizer-BioNTech booster to eligible individuals who previously received the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, USF can provide a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to those who received a single dose of this vaccine at least two months ago. USF will also provide boosters to eligible family members of USF faculty, staff and students.
Eligibility and frequency can change at any time, please always review CDC guidelines for the most up-to-date booster shot information.
Faculty and staff can make an appointment by writing to covidvaccine@usf.edu. The Morsani Clinic (13330 USF Laurel Drive) also accepts walk-ins during specific times. Established USF Health patients can make an appointment through MyChart. Student Health Services on all three USF campuses offers the vaccine and boosters to students for no cost/low-cost medical services covered by student fees. Complete an intake form or call 813-974-2331 for an appointment.
General COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Vaccines stimulate your body’s protective immune response so that if you are infected with a pathogen, your immune system can quickly prevent the infection from spreading within your body and causing disease. COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. There are several vaccines currently available.
- Vaccines DO introduce your immune system to non-dangerous components of the virus, such as the well-known “spike” of the coronavirus, so it will recognize it later and prevent the virus from spreading and causing illness.
- All current vaccines DO show effective protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death.
- Coronavirus research ISN’T new; coronavirus has been studied for several decades.
- mRNA technology ISN’T new; the science of mRNA has been studied for more than a decade.
- mRNA vaccines DON’T contain a live virus and DON’T carry a risk of causing disease in the vaccinated person.
- mRNA from the vaccine NEVER enters the nucleus of the cell and DOESN’T affect or interact with a person’s DNA.
- Vaccines DON’T interfere with testing for COVID-19.
After you’re vaccinated
- It can take two weeks after vaccination for your body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19.
- You could still get COVID-19 before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection. You will most likely experience mild symptoms or asymptomatic infection. This is why masking and physical distancing are still very important until you are fully protected.
- You are considered fully protected two weeks after your final dose.
- Read CDC guidelines for fully vaccinated people.
Current Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines
The following vaccines are currently authorized for distribution in the United States.
Get the Vaccine
Use the following to make an appointment or find walk-up vaccination sites.
Additional Resources
Find more information about the COVID-19 vaccine at the following websites.
Frequently Asked Questions
USF strongly recommends students, faculty, staff, vendors and visitors get fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to minimize health impacts and reduce the spread of variants, though vaccination is not required. The State of Florida has made vaccines widely available to everyone medically eligible.
USF Health continues to offer vaccines at the Morsani Clinic (13330 USF Laurel Drive). Faculty and staff can make an appointment by emailing covidvaccine@usf.edu. The Morsani Clinic also accepts walk-ins during specific times. Established USF Health patients can make a vaccine appointment through MyChart.
Student Health Services on all three of our campuses offers the vaccine and boosters to eligible USF students for no cost/low-cost medical services covered by student fees. Complete an intake form or call 813-974-2331 for an appointment.
Donna Petersen, dean of USF's College of Public Health, answers questions about COVID-19 vaccines.