It depends on your circumstance. Below are some of the most common ones:
You are age 79 or below and showed up to SMU’s Vaccination Site without an appointment
Walk-ins for 79 and below are not being accepted at the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center at this time. Monitor your SMU email and visit smu.edu/covidvaccine for more details on the University’s vaccination campaign.
You are not involved with SMU as a current student, faculty or staff member
At this time, SMU is only offering the vaccine to current faculty, staff, adjunct faculty and students. Dependents of SMU employees and retirees will be eligible to receive the vaccine in a phased approach as supplies become available.
Individuals not associated with SMU can click here to view resources to help them find a vaccine through another provider.
You had a fever of 100 degrees or more at check-in
An elevated temperature needs to be investigated before you receive the vaccine. Please schedule an appointment with your doctor to sort out the possible cause of the temperature and determine if testing may be needed to rule out COVID-19.
You tested positive for the virus – or came into close contact with a known-positive case – within the previous 14 days of your appointment
If you do have COVID-19 you will need to wait to be vaccinated until after you’ve recovered from acute illness, no longer have symptoms and are able to discontinue isolation. This applies to those with active infection before the first dose and to those who develop COVID-19 between the first and second dose.
Individuals who have come into close contact with a known positive case of COVID-19 need to complete the full 14-day quarantine before getting their vaccine.
You realized you have a conflict with your scheduled vaccination time
The Dr. Bob Smith Health Center has a tightly coordinated process to ensure the vaccine doesn’t go to waste – and it’s dependent upon you showing up at your scheduled time. Please make your best effort not to re-schedule. Should a conflict arise (such as an illness) you cannot work around, call the Health Center as soon as possible at 214-768-2141.
You’ve had an allergic reaction to a previous vaccination or injectable tharapy (Not COVID-19 vaccine)
You should seek counsel with your healthcare provider on the unknown risks of developing a severe allergic reaction from a COVID-19 vaccine. Knowing this information could better help you weigh the risk and benefits. If you indicate that you’ve had a previous allergic reaction and choose to be vaccinated, you will be observed for 30 minutes afterwards.
You’ve had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
Individuals who have experienced a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the first dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should not receive a second dose. Those with a known severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in a vaccine should not receive that vaccine.
If you have an immediate allergic reaction of any severity to the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, you should not receive the second dose unless an allergist-immunologist has determined that the second dose would be safe.
CDC considers a history of the following to be a contraindication to vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines:
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a component of the COVID-19 vaccine
- Immediate allergic reaction of any severity to a previous dose or known (diagnosed) allergy to a component of the vaccine
You’ve received passive antibody therapy such as monoclonal antibodies or convalescent serum to treat a previous case of COVID-19.
If you have received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma as treatment for COVID-19 prior to receiving your first dose, vaccination should be deferred for at least 90 days after passive antibody therapy as a precaution. Similarly, if you receive passive antibody therapy after your first vaccine dose but before the second dose, you should defer the second dose for at least 90 days after therapy. If you have received antibody therapy unrelated to COVID-19 treatment, there is no recommended deferral period for COVID-19 vaccination.
