Yes! You may get the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen booster doses on campus at the vaccine clinic. Even if you did not receive your original vaccinations on campus, just bring your vaccination card and they will be able to provide you with the appropriate booster.

The vaccine clinic is located on the ground floor of Willard Hall in suite 13. COVID-19 booster vaccinations will be on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. 

Schedule your appointment via the Vaccination Administration System.

Current booster shot recommendations are: 

• People age 18 years and older who received Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines should get a booster six months after completing the initial vaccination series. 

• All people ages 18 or older who received a single dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine, should receive a second shot at least two months after the first shot. 

• Individuals who received Janssen (J&J) may receive a Pfizer or Moderna booster as the second shot, if desired. 

• A second booster is recommended for those 12 and up who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, as well as for those who used the single-dose Janssen for their initial vaccination and first booster.  

Learn more about booster shots COVID-19 Booster Shots | SCDHEC 

How long does the vaccine last (is it like the flue shot that you have to get every year)? 

An initial COVID-19 vaccine is incredibly effective in preventing a severe case. But like many viruses, a booster or routine shot is needed to maintain protection. COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters | CDC breaks down the various ages and situations where a booster is recommended. 

Yes, the current versions of the COVID-19 vaccine have been found to be both safe and effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus. For more information on the vaccines, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the U.S. use the live virus that causes COVID-19. The goal of the vaccination is to teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity.

The CDC states that any vaccine can cause side effects. For the most part, these are minor; for example, a sore arm or low-grade fever that goes away within a few days. Full-time and part-time employees who experience side effects may miss work to recover, as noted in the vaccination policy on mySMC.

At this time, SMC is not requiring vaccination; however, we are strongly encouraging all of the Pioneer community to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible.

We are tracking public health requirements and guidance, best practices, and other factors to determine whether to include the vaccine as part of the required regiment for students.

You may get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on SMC's campus! The vaccine clinic is located on the ground floor of Willard Hall in suite 13.

COVID-19 vaccinations will be on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Schedule your appointment via the Vaccination Administration System.

The should be no cost to receive the COVID-19 vaccine regardless of where you get the vaccine or if you do or don't have health insurance.

Any SMC employee who incurs a reasonable out-of-pocket cost to receive the vaccine (including paying for transportation or insurance co-pays) may contact Jenny Dunn in Human Resources for reimbursement. If you are unsure if an out-of-pocket cost will be reimbursed, please check with Jenny before you receive the vaccine.

Hourly employees may receive the vaccine during work hours without losing pay.

For SMC employees who are enrolled in a college health plan, here is a message from our provider:

"As the vaccine becomes available to the public, the federal government will cover the cost of the COVID-19 vaccines and BlueCross and BlueChoice will cover any administrative costs to administer the vaccine during the pandemic emergency period. Throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency, there will be no cost-share for our members. This applies whether the member receives the vaccine from an in-network or out-of-network provider. For vaccines that require more than one dose, BlueCross and BlueChoice will cover each required dose with no cost-share.

For the latest updates, visit www.bcbs.sc/covid-19.

Employees who do experience a co-pay or other reasonable charge when getting the vaccine should contact Jenny Dunn for instructions regarding reimbursement.

The CDC is the federal agency responsible for providing the overall vision for vaccination phases to state health departments. These guidelines were reviewed by the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services before being rolled out to the states.

Each state health department then determined the rollout for their particular state. In South Carolina, DHEC created the rollout phases and who would be included in those phases. For more information, visit the DHEC website.

Face masks are not required in any buildings or at any events at this time.  You should wear a high-quality mask if: 

• If you have been exposed to COVID-19 for ten days, test on day five.

• If you test positive for eleven days.  Please isolate for 5 days, then if you are fever free you can return to normal activities, but wear your mask for six more days.  

• If you are traveling on public transportation, airlines, and/or inside public places such as grocery stores, movie theaters, etc. 

• Wear a mask if you are going to be around a person who might get very sick from COVID-19.

• If you are not sure when to wear a mask, speak with your family doctor to determine what is best for your situation

The college administration will continue to monitor the pandemic and make updates to campus policies as needed. 

CDC streamlines COVID-19 guidance to help the public better protect themselves and understand their risk | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC 

The vaccine rollout phases and eligibility are determined by SCDHEC and apply to all residents of South Carolina. Anyone in the SMC community who fits the current vaccine eligibility phase can get vaccinated at a designated vaccine site. For more information on vaccine eligibility, visit the DHEC website.

Any SMC employee who may have concerns about their health or safety as it relates to the COVID-19 vaccine should contact Courtney Dobbins in the human resources office.

The vaccine allows your body’s immune system to develop an antibody response that may protect you from getting sick or developing a severe illness if you do contract COVID-19. Clinical trials have shown the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and an important step in stopping the pandemic. The more people who have had COVID-19 or who have gotten the vaccine, the faster life returns to normal due to a phenomenon known as herd immunity.

For more information regarding the vaccines, visit the CDC's website.

For more information regarding the vaccine rollout in South Carolina, visit DHEC's website.

Other resources are below.

The COVID-19 vaccine is not required for faculty or staff at this time; however, faculty or staff who have access to obtain the vaccine are highly encouraged to do so. SMC will continue to monitor vaccine availability and may require the vaccine once it becomes more available.

The COVID-19 vaccine is free to all SMC Students. Use this link to find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you COVID-19 Vaccine Locations | SCDHEC 

Use the following link to find a COVID-19 vaccine locator near you COVID-19 Vaccine Locations | SCDHEC. Also, watch for announcements on SMC email for upcoming vaccine clinics. 

Yes, we will be organizing vaccine clinics during the academic year. Even if you did not receive your original vaccinations on campus, just bring your vaccination card and they will be able to provide you with the appropriate booster. Watch for announcements on SMC email for upcoming vaccine clinics or use this link to find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you COVID-19 Vaccine Locations | SCDHEC 

Yes. Students who receive the vaccine will be required to update their SMC immunization records by uploading the completed vaccination card after the second dose to the document upload section of SLATE that is currently used to register for the required weekly COVID-19 test. Only completed vaccination cards (dated with both doses of the vaccine) will be accepted.

Face masks are not required in any buildings or at any events at this time.  You should wear a high-quality mask if: 

• If you have been exposed to COVID-19 for ten days, test on day five. 

• If you test positive for eleven days.  Please isolate for 5 days, then if you are fever free you can return to normal activities, but wear you mask for six more days.  

• If you are traveling on public transportation, airlines, and/or inside public places such as grocery stores, movie theaters, etc. 

• Wear a mask if you are going to be around a person who might get very sick from COVID-19.  

• If you are not sure when to wear a mask, speak with your family doctor to determine what is best for your situation. 

The college administration will continue to monitor the pandemic and make updates to campus policies as needed. 

CDC streamlines COVID-19 guidance to help the public better protect themselves and understand their risk | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC 

 

Yes, the current versions of the COVID-19 vaccine have been found to be both safe and effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus. For more information on the vaccines, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the U.S. use the live virus that causes COVID-19. The goal of the vaccination is to teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity.

The CDC states that any vaccine can cause side effects. For the most part, these are minor; for example, a sore arm or low-grade fever that goes away within a few days.

There is no evidence that any of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in use are linked to infertility. To learn more about this topic, please visit Why COVID Vaccines are Falsely Linked to Infertility (webmd.com) and The Truth About the COVID-19 Vaccines (cedars-sinai.org).

The FDA has granted full approval for Pfizer-BioNTech (COMIRNATY) COVID-19 Vaccine for people ages 16 years and older and for Moderna (Spikevax) COVID-19 Vaccine for people ages 18 years and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of the third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals. 

The FDA has given the  Janssen vaccine Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), which facilitates the availability and use of the vaccines, during public health emergencies, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. With the EUA designation, the FDA allows the use of medical products to treat and prevent serious or life-threatening diseases, as long as certain criteria are met and there is not a viable alternative.  To learn more about the FDA's authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, please visit the FDA's website. 

 

No, the COVID-19 vaccines will not change your DNA.  The COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines, and they do not have the live virus in them that causes COVID-19. The mRNA never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA (genetic material) is kept. To learn more about how the COVID-19 vaccines work, visit the CDC's website.