With cold and flu season officially here, I want to remind the University community of the availability of COVID-19 tests and opportunities on and off campus to get vaccinated against both influenza and COVID-19. As always, good hygiene practices are essential to minimizing the spread of infectious diseases, and we recommend all community members follow these prevention tips from the Barnes Center at The Arch.
In today’s update I will address:
COVID Tests Available by Mail and On Campus
This fall, every U.S. household may place an order to receive four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. Visit covid.gov/tests to order your supply today.
Vending machines offering low-cost, self-administered tests continue to be available across campus. To find out where they are located, visit Syracuse.edu/staysafe. Tests can also be purchased through the Barnes Center Pharmacy.
Note: The Flowflex tests available from campus vending machines have expiration dates that have been extended through January 2024. The current expiration date for any at-home test can be looked up by referencing the lot number on the packaging on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website [PDF].
Vaccination Opportunities for Students
On-campus flu vaccine clinics for students, offered through the Barnes Center, begin next week and will run through November. Students should visit the Patient Portal to see available dates and times and schedule their appointment.
Due to nationwide shipping delays, the Barnes Center does not currently have a supply of the latest COVID-19 vaccine. For immediate access, students should visit vaccine.gov to search in their area or visit a local pharmacy, many of which have a supply of the COVID vaccine.
Vaccination Opportunities for Faculty and Staff
The next on-campus flu vaccine clinic for faculty and staff, offered through Human Resources in partnership with Wegmans Pharmacy, is Wednesday, Oct. 25. Learn more and schedule an appointment online.
Similar to the Barnes Center, Wegmans is also impacted by the nationwide shipping delays of the COVID vaccine. Wegmans was able to offer a limited supply of COVID vaccines at last Friday’s employee flu clinic and will continue to offer them, as available, to faculty and staff registered for on-campus flu vaccine clinics. There is no guarantee of COVID vaccine availability. When supplies improve, additional faculty/staff clinics offering both flu and COVID vaccines will be announced.
In the meantime, faculty and staff can elect to receive vaccines at their doctor’s office and/or local pharmacies. Faculty, staff and their dependents enrolled in the University’s employee health plan can obtain free vaccines at in-network pharmacies, or through their participating provider’s office, by showing their Excellus BlueCross BlueShield or Optum Rx identification cards. With questions, contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.
The University continues to monitor all developments related to COVID, influenza and other communicable diseases. As always, you will continue to receive messages if there is any new or pertinent public health information to share.
Sincerely,
Ramesh Raina
Professor, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
The Syracuse WorkForce Run was held at Onondaga Lake Parkway Tuesday, bringing together workers from across Central New York for a night of food, fun, fitness and friendly competition among area employers. This year’s event, which raised funds for Ronald…
Oren Lyons Jr. ’58, H’93 and Roy Simmons Jr. ’59, H’14 formed a lifelong friendship that stems from their days starring for the Syracuse University men’s lacrosse team from 1955-58. Recently, Lyons and Simmons were honored with the Alfie Jacques…
Katherine McDonald, professor of public health and senior associate dean for research and administration in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, will join Syracuse University’s Office of Research in a new role as associate vice president…
Chancellor Kent Syverud has appointed Dean Mark Lodato of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications as academic dean representative to the Board of Trustees. In addition, Andrea Rose Persin, assistant dean of budget, finance and administration in the College…
Cash Operations has set a deadline of 3:30 p.m. on Monday, June 30, 2025, to receive deposits at the Bowne Cash Operations office for credit in fiscal year 2025. Deposits should be made as early in the day as possible…
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
