Vaccine Update for Students Abroad

Dear University of Maryland International Graduate Students,

As you know, the University will resume in-person instruction for the fall 2021 semester, and all faculty, staff, and students regularly coming to campus are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Many of you have asked which vaccinations will be accepted and whether vaccinations will be provided by the University.  

The University of Maryland will accept proof of vaccination with vaccines that have been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as vaccines that have been authorized by national regulatory agencies in other countries. The University of Maryland will not accept vaccines that are given as part of clinical trials or that have been authorized by regulatory agencies in other countries but have been evaluated and rejected by WHO. 

We want to stress the importance of getting vaccinated as soon as possible with a vaccine that is currently available to you in your home country and not wait to be vaccinated until you arrive in the United States.  

We will follow CDC guidance for newly arriving international students including:

• Those who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine authorized for emergency use by the FDA or the WHO must be tested with a viral (PCR) test within three to five days upon arrival on campus. No quarantine will be required.

• Those who have received a vaccine that has not been authorized by the FDA or the WHO must be tested with a viral (PCR) test within three to five days upon arrival and must self-quarantine for seven days upon arrival even if the test result is negative. Those who are unable to be tested must self-quarantine for 10 days upon arrival. 

Please note that if you have received a vaccine that has not been authorized by the WHO by the time of your arrival for the fall 2021 semester, the University reserves the right to request that you receive an additional FDA-authorized vaccination to ensure the safety of the campus community.

• Those who have not been vaccinated prior to traveling to the United States must be tested with a viral (PCR) test within three to five days upon arrival and must self-quarantine for seven days upon arrival even if the test result is negative. Those who are unable to be tested must self-quarantine for 10 days upon arrival. 

Individuals should make arrangements to be vaccinated in the United States immediately upon completion of their self-quarantine. 

The University plans to make vaccinations available to all newly arriving faculty, staff and students who need to be vaccinated. You can find information on where and how to get vaccinated here.

PCR testing and vaccinations for members of the University of Maryland community will be available on or near campus throughout the summer and fall. For more information on dates, times and availability, check 4Maryland.

We look forward to seeing you on campus and wish you the best as you begin or continue your education and research. If you have any questions about the vaccination requirement, please write to healthconcerns@umd.edu.

Sincerely,

Spyridon S. Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.
Chief Medical Officer and Director, University Health Center 

Steve Fetter, Ph.D.
Associate Provost and Dean, The Graduate School