We are excited to again convene our community in-person for the start of spring semester. To assist in your planning, we are writing with further details regarding the testing and vaccination protocol for returning to campus. 

Students are required to take a COVID-19 test at home in time to receive results a maximum of 2 days prior to departure for returning to campus after Winter Break, regardless of arrival timeline. You should test and receive your result prior to beginning to travel to Providence. We understand that availability of testing may present a challenge for some students. Students have options to test with either a rapid antigen or PCR test. With tests in high demand, we advise that students plan ahead to procure a test, particularly with the turnaround time of 3-5 days for PCR test results in some areas. 

If a test result is negative, students may continue their planned travel to campus and should not upload their test results to Health Services. Students who receive a positive result must isolate at home and contact Health Services before being authorized to return to 

campus. Further information about on-campus testing protocols upon return from Winter Break and for the early part of the spring semester will be communicated as we get closer to the start of the term. 

Additionally, the University is requiring all students to receive a COVID-19 booster shot no later than January 26, 2022 (the first day of classes of the spring semester) or within thirty (30) days of becoming eligible. You are eligible for a booster five months after your Moderna or Pfizer two-dose series, or two months after your initial Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Pursuant to CDC guidance, those who have been fully vaccinated outside of the U.S. with a WHO-EUL approved vaccine are eligible for a single booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at least six (6) months after full vaccination. Booster shots are widely available in the U.S. and remain free of charge, and you can find available vaccination locations at vaccines.gov. Booster shots are available in Rhode Island, and you can find available vaccination locations at www.vaccinateri.org. 

You will need to submit your booster documentation to the Health and Wellness Patient Portal only once. If you have already submitted documentation, do not submit it again. Duplicate submissions will restart the verification process and delay confirmation of your vaccination. 

To update your vaccination information via the portal:

1. Log in to the Health and Wellness Patient Portal using your Brown username and password: https://brown.medicatconnect.com/home.aspx. 

2. Select “Immunizations” at the top of the page and select “Enter Dates.”

3. Scroll down to the section labeled “COVID Booster Only” and select the calendar icon associated with the vaccine manufacturer you received to select the date you received your booster. Once you have completed this step, you can select the “Submit” button.

4. Next, select “Upload” from the menu at the top of the page and select “Proof of COVID Vaccine.” 

5. Choose “Select File,” upload your vaccine card image, and select “Upload.” All vaccination records will be stored confidentially. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

When should I test? 
You should test prior to travelling to Providence. Please factor in turnaround timelines and plan to test in time to receive results a maximum of 2 days prior to departure for returning to campus after Winter Break, regardless of arrival timeline. 

Do I need to share my test result with the University? 
If you test negative, there is no need to inform the University. 

If you test positive, you are required to notify Health Services for reporting and support purposes, and will need to be authorized by Health Services to return to campus. Log in to the Health and Wellness Patient Portal using your Brown username and password to confirm that you have tested positive by completing the positive case form: 

https://brown.medicatconnect.com/home.aspx. If you have questions or concerns, Health Services can be reached at 401-863-3953 or nursing@health.brown.edu. 

What type of test should I take? 
Either rapid antigen or PCR (polymerase chain reaction) COVID-19 tests are acceptable to meet the pre-arrival test requirement. Rapid antigen tests detect active infections; yield results within 15 minutes; and are available at various state-run testing locations, health centers, and pharmacies, or can be performed at home. PCR tests are a molecular lab test that are considered to have a more accurate result when testing for infection. Both tests are currently in high demand, so we advise planning ahead so you can test prior to travelling to campus. 

Can Brown provide me with a test? 
Unfortunately Brown is unable to provide students with a test while they are away from campus, but tests are available at testing centers and pharmacies across the country. For those located in the U.S., testing sites can be found on the HHS site: 

https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html. International students should plan to test upon arrival if they are unable to find an approved test in their country of origin. 

Can I get tested on campus? 
Students should test prior to traveling to Providence and continue with travel plans if having tested negative. Further information about on-campus testing protocols upon return from Winter Break and for the early part of the spring semester will be communicated as we get closer to the start of the term. 

What if I have a religious or medical exemption to the COVID-19 vaccination? 
If you have already received an approved exemption for COVID-19 vaccination from Health Services, you will continue to be exempt from the booster requirement. Exempt students will still be required to test twice per week upon arriving in Providence and for the duration of the semester. If you have not previously received an exemption and wish to request one, information regarding how to do so is available on the COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions page of the Healthy Brown website: https://healthy.brown.edu/vaccinations/faq. 

Thank you, 

Brown University Health & Wellness