Vaccination Information

East Carolina University encourages eligible faculty, staff and students to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them. Through clinical trials across the nation, the FDA has determined the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Members of the ECU community are encouraged to consult with their primary care provider regarding questions about the vaccines.

In close coordination with the Centers for Disease Control, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Vidant Health and our local health department, ECU has developed plans to efficiently and equitably distribute the vaccine.

As our experts progress with trials and research, and we vaccinate faculty, staff, students and other members of our community, we are hopeful. However, health officials have stated vaccine distribution will take time. In the meantime, it is critical to observe ECU’s Community Expectations to protect yourself, your family and friends and Pirate Nation.

Vaccine Distribution for Students, Faculty and Staff

ECU will follow CDC prioritization guidelines for distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines to students, faculty and staff.

The vaccination will be made available to students, faculty and staff at no cost. However, if you receive your vaccine through ECU Physicians, insurance will be billed for administration of the vaccine and is covered without copay. If you are a State Health Plan member, the vaccine is covered 100% when you are eligible to receive it. While there is no member cost, the State Health Plan is paying for the administration of the vaccine, which is why it’s important to present your ID card. The vaccine is currently being paid for by the federal government.

Employees can use work time, within reason, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine either on or off campus depending on where and when it is being offered. Employees should be prepared to provide documentation that the vaccine was received. Employees must notify their supervisor of their need to be absent to receive the vaccination with as much notice as possible so that the work unit can prepare for the employee’s absence from the workplace.

Based on guidance from NCDHHS, ECU Physicians is now offering the COVID-19 vaccine to individuals in Group 1 and Group 2, which includes ECU faculty, staff and retirees ages 65 and older, and their spouses, who are over 65, as well as individuals in Group 3 and Group 4. You do not need to be an ECU Physicians patient to receive the vaccine.

Great care has been taken to ensure the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. They are being administered only after the nation’s scientists and ECU experts completed a rigorous review of the safety and efficacy data. Widespread vaccination will allow us to reduce the spread of the virus.

We are currently vaccinating individuals in Groups 1, 2, 3 and Group 4 of the prioritized distribution plan as defined by NCDHHS. Visit NCDHHS for the latest details on phases. NCDHHS’ online tool, Find My Vaccine Group, helps North Carolinians know when they will be eligible to get their vaccine.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit ECU Physicians’ vaccine page. To find another vaccine site near you, visit the Vaccine Site Locator.

Group 1: Health Care Workers and Long-term Care Staff and Residents

  • Health care workers with in-person patient contact.
  • Long-term care staff and residents—people in skilled nursing facilities, adult care homes and continuing care retirement communities.

Group 2: Older Adults

  • ECU faculty, staff and retirees ages 65 years or older, regardless of health status or living situation.

Group 3: Frontline Essential Workers

  • The CDC defines frontline essential workers as workers who are in sectors essential to the functioning of society and who are at substantially higher risk for exposure to COVID-19.
  • On Feb. 24, Group 3 eligibility for the vaccine opened to a small subset of frontline essential workers, including all in-person daycare, pre-K and K-12 teachers and support staff. On March 3, the state announced that all people in Group 3 could begin receiving the vaccine.
  • Please note that our ability to distribute vaccines is based on supply availability.

Group 4: Adults at High Risk for Exposure and Increased Risk of Severe Illness

  • Anyone 16-64 years old with high-risk medical conditions that increase risk of severe disease from COVID-19 such as cancer, COPD, serious heart conditions, sickle cell disease, Type 2 diabetes, among others, regardless of living situation.
  • Anyone who is incarcerated or living in other close group living settings who is not already vaccinated due to age, medical condition or job function.
  • Essential workers not yet vaccinated. The CDC defines these as workers in transportation and logistics, water and wastewater, food service, shelter and housing (e.g., construction), finance (e.g., bank tellers), information technology and communications, energy, legal, media, public safety (e.g., engineers) and public health workers.

Group 5: Everyone who wants a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination

NCDHHS has a specific focus on building trust with historically marginalized populations. Longstanding and continuing racial and ethnic injustices in our health care system contribute to lack of trust in vaccines. The department is partnering with trusted leaders and organizations to provide accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines to all North Carolinians and ensure equitable access to vaccines.