SDSU COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Programs
Student Health Services offers a range of medical services to support SDSU students, including services for COVID-19. In addition to offering COVID-19 testing to students, the university is now offering COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccines are only given to those who are eligible based on the County of San Diego and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
The U.S. The Federal Drug Administration has granted Emergency Use Authorization for COVID-19 vaccines, and health authorities have defined phases for nation-wide vaccination. Distribution of the vaccine at San Diego State University is based on County of San Diego and CDC and state guidelines.
SDSU is launching a safe and standardized approach to vaccinating university students, faculty and staff, and Student Health Services will administer the vaccines. Members of the general public are not able to get vaccinated at SDSU’s Student Health Services.
COVID-19 Testing
Student Health Services offers a range of medical services to support SDSU students, including services for COVID-19.
Location and Hours
Enrolled students can access COVID testing at Student Health Services at the Calpulli Center Information Booth. Testing is available Monday through Friday, during business hours with an appointment. For testing on evenings and weekend, the County of San Diego offers a number of free testing sites.
San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency also offers a convenient testing site at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center. This site is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm.
Scheduling Appointments
Testing is available by appointment only. Online scheduling is available through HealtheConnect, our secure online health portal. Students can also schedule appointments by calling Student Health Services at 619-594-4325.
Cost
There is no cost for testing.
Testing Specifics
Students will be asked to self-collect their PCR test specimen with a nasal swab. This will be observed by an SHS team member in order to ensure proper collection. The testing is painless and students can complete the process in just a few minutes.
Results
Results are typically available in two to three days and will be sent via HealtheConnect. If students test positive, they will also receive a follow-up phone call.
COVID-19 Medical Care
For students who are experiencing COVID-like symptoms or who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are having ongoing medical issues, Student Health Services can provide support and care. Please call us at 619-594-4325 for an appointment or telephonic consultation.
CSU Vaccination Requirement
On April 22, the California State University system and University of California shared in a joint announcement that students, faculty and staff will be required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to be able to access campus facilities this fall.
The CSU, of which SDSU is part, indicated two important conditions for the requirement to be implemented: The requirement is contingent upon full approval of one or more vaccines by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA), and adequate availability of fully approved vaccines.
Additional information and guidance, including exceptions that will be offered for students, faculty and staff, is forthcoming and will be shared at a later date.
COVID-19 Vaccination Program
As is true in states across the U.S., not everyone will be vaccinated right away. The vaccines available are in limited supply, and our nation is not yet able to provide vaccines for everyone.
As part of San Diego County’s progress through its COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, all San Diego State University faculty and staff became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, Feb. 27, and those age 16 and older are eligible beginning April 15.
Faculty, staff and students have choices when getting vaccinated, and are encouraged to reach out to the following to try and secure an appointment:
- Get vaccinated directly at SDSU’s Viejas Arena, where the County of San Diego is offering vaccines without the need to get an appointment. The site is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Sign up for an appointment with one of the no-appointment County of San Diego vaccination sites, where vaccines are available each day without an appointment, or the Imperial County vaccination sites.
- Students may schedule appointments at Student Health Services via HealtheConnect
- Contact your primary care physician or other healthcare provider.
- Vaccines are also available by appointment at clinics, pharmacies and certain stories, such as Ralphs, Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions and CVS.
- Use VaccineFinder to locate a COVID vaccine near you.
County officials have shared that it is important to remember that while eligibility has expanded, it will take time to vaccinate all of those who are eligible given the limited vaccine supply.
How to Register for a Vaccine
As we have previously shared, Student Health Services (SHS) is approved by the State of California to administer COVID-19 vaccines to eligible faculty, staff and students. However, vaccine supply allocated to SHS is limited. SDSU is committed to ensuring a fair and equitable process for COVID-19 vaccines for campus community members based on state- and county-approved eligibility.
The national vaccine supply is expected to expand, and SDSU will continue to request vaccines to offer to eligible campus community members.
SHS will continue administering the doses to eligible campus community members as vaccine supply allows. SHS will prioritize vaccine appointments for those members of the SDSU community who have been working on campus since March 2020. A separate invitation email will be sent to eligible individuals based on vaccine availability. The email will include instructions on how to make an appointment.
For those who are eligible: If you need support or would like to confirm that you are already vaccinated, please email the SDSU Student Health Services team at [email protected]. Student Health Services is not able to provide information about your situation based on your medical history or medical condition. The team also cannot place you on a wait list; SDSU is not maintaining a wait list for COVID-19 vaccines.
COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility and Phases
Getting vaccinated does not give you the virus that causes COVID-19, but helps your body to fight the virus. With a greater number of individuals in our broader community vaccinated, our communities will begin to see immunity against COVID-19.
SDSU encourages all faculty, staff and students to get vaccinated when they become eligible. The university is now approved by the state of California to administer vaccines to all faculty and staff.
County-Operated Vaccination Site at Viejas Arena
The County of San Diego has approved SDSU to host a COVID-19 vaccination site at Viejas Arena beginning Tuesday, March 23.
This county-operated site is operated by the county and is open to all eligible members of the SDSU and regional communities. The county-operated Viejas Arena vaccination site is currently offering no-appointment needed, walk-up vaccination availability. The location is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. More information is available on the county’s website.
County-Operated Vaccination Site FAQs
About the Current Vaccines, Why Get Vaccinated
Safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 can help reduce the chances of contracting the disease. Current vaccines can help reduce the number of people invested and reduce the number of people who must seek medical attention. The vaccines may also reduce the long-term effects of COVID-19.
This is what we know:
- Currently, the Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna mRNA and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are the only three COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States. These vaccines, which are being administered nationally and in other parts of the world, are proven to be 95 percent effective.
- The vaccines now on the market and available nationwide are safe and have been proven effective through scientific research and clinical trials
- Supporting the County of San Diego’s efforts in vaccinating faculty, staff and students, SDSU is following county guidance on vaccine phases, which defines the order in which the population can receive vaccines.
- Importantly, medical professionals and health officials, including those within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies, determine vaccination phases.
Slow the Spread of COVID-19
Not everyone will be able to access vaccines immediately. Distributing the vaccine across the nation and throughout the state of California will take time and patience. It remains important to continue to maintain the everyday practices that help protect yourself, your loved ones and the university and broader communities.
Continue to do the following:
- Wear a facial covering to protect yourself and others.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Practice physical distancing when around anyone outside of your immediate household.
- Avoid indoors gatherings with those outside your immediate household.
- Monitor your symptoms and get COVID-19 tested
