4.13.21: Student Vaccination Eligibility Update

A message sent to Lehigh undergraduate and graduate students and families.

Dear Students and Lehigh Families,

As of today, all Pennsylvania adults (16 and older) are eligible to schedule an appointment for a COVID -19 vaccine. This includes all Lehigh students.

Given this earlier expansion of vaccine eligibility, students may be able to receive both doses of the vaccine before departing campus at the end of the semester. Students should pay attention to the timeframe for first and second doses if getting a vaccine that requires two doses. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, students who receive their first dose of a vaccine in Pennsylvania and must travel home before they are eligible to receive their second dose should be able to receive their second dose in their home communities.

Schedule an Appointment for a Vaccine

LVHN

Bethlehem Health Bureau

  • Visit the Bethlehem Health Bureau’s website and click on “COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Dates and Registration” to schedule an appointment on an upcoming clinic date. Please note the separate scheduling links for first and second doses.
  • Once you receive your first dose, you will receive an email to schedule your second dose.

St. Luke’s

  • Set up a St. Luke’s My Chart account via the St. Luke’s website.
  • Log in and click the link on the home screen to complete the vaccine pre-registration form.
  • You will receive an email notification when appointments are available.

Visit the Commonwealth’s page for more information about other vaccine providers in Pennsylvania. The supply of vaccines may vary by location. Each supplier may also require different information that you are required to provide to reserve an appointment.

Considerations

Please visit our dedicated Lehigh vaccination webpage that compiles FAQs and additional links to external resources. This page will also be updated with any Lehigh-specific vaccination policies and information.

When students complete their vaccination, they should upload proof of their completed vaccination to the Health and Wellness Center (see details below) so they will not need to be quarantined if they are identified as a close contact of someone infected with COVID.

Submitting Your Vaccination Information

  • Students who have been vaccinated are not required to quarantine if they are identified as a close contact of a positive case, as long as they are not experiencing COVID-like symptoms.
  • Other modifications to our COVID rules are being considered as well. For these modifications to apply, students must upload a copy of their COVID vaccination card on the HWC health portal, including documentation of their full name, name of vaccine received, and the administration date for both doses.
  • Regardless of vaccination status, anyone who exhibits new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19 still needs to isolate and be evaluated for COVID-19 testing.

This new phase in vaccine distribution brings us even closer to the resumption of the residential living and learning experience we have all missed. We encourage all students who are able to get vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Nathan Urban

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Ricardo Hall

Vice President of Student Affairs

David Rubenstein

Executive Director, Health and Wellness Center