Welcome

Vaccine information

The Virginia Department of Health has established a vaccine unit to coordinate COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Information about the COVID-19 vaccination program is changing frequently. We will use this space to provide some answers and information related to the vaccine.

• The New River Health District reported late Wednesday that vaccine demand in the region exceeds current supply.
• The Health District has the capability of giving 1,200 vaccines per day, but does not have the doses for full capacity.
• Vigilance and adherence to public health guidelines of mask use, hand washing, and physical distancing remain effective methods to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
• If you qualify under the guidelines of Phase 1b to receive the vaccine and live in the New River Valley region, visit NRVRoadtoWellness.com to pre-register or call 540-838-8222.
• Pre-registering does not reserve a vaccine or make an appointment; it enables VDH to contact you to make an appointment when vaccine is available.
• Once you are pre-registered, please do not call or email to check your status. Be patient. You will be contacted as soon as possible to schedule an appointment, but it may take weeks.

Mitigation strategies for spring: Pods

The Division of Student Affairs is introducing a pod registration program, allowing students to formally establish a limited group of peers with whom they can spend time and engage in the collegiate experience. Pods are small groups of students who are able to interact with each other more closely and in a more relaxed, unmasked environment. In order to do so, students in a pod make a commitment to rigorously follow safety measures, including face coverings and physical distancing, when interacting with anyone outside of the pod.

Pods are a tool to help students expand social circles and create closer connections while incentivizing individuals to follow CDC guidelines and maintain a healthy community. A formal pod registration system will also help clarify acceptable behavior in student rooms based on who is in the room at a given time. Students will be required to register their pod by the end of the second week of classes.

Students can create their pod in the Divisions of Student Affairs’ StarRez portal. The pod program offers a COVID-19 mitigation strategy designed to facilitate a richer collegiate experience in defined social engagement settings while minimizing the risk of exposure to the virus.

Testing Information for spring

Updated Jan. 14

Students

Students with symptoms, contact traced or known exposure

January 4 – May 14
Location: Schiffert Health Center
Hours: M – Th, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Call 540-231-6444 for appointment

Sat 9 a.m. – noon
Urgent care walk-in only

Students without symptoms (voluntary testing)

January 25 – May 7
Location: Lane Stadium, Gate 1
Hours: M – F, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sign-up through VT Notify
Sun. 9:30 a.m. – noon
Walk-in Testing (sign-in on VT Notify at arrival)

Mandatory Student Prevalence Testing

January 25 – May 7
Location: Lane Stadium, Gate 1
Hours: M – F, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Students selected for prevalence testing will receive an email with sign-up information.

Employees

Surveillance Testing for High Contact Employees
January 5 – May 7
Location: Lane Stadium, Gate 1
Hours: Every two weeks, M – F, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sign-up through VT Notify

Employee voluntary testing
January 25 – May 7
Location: Lane Stadium, Gate 1
Hours: M – F, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sign up through VT Notify



Sun. 9:30 a.m. – noon
Walk-in Testing (sign-in on VT Notify at arrival)

Testing available for students, employees in greater Washington, D.C., metro area

The university will begin asymptomatic, surveillance testing for Virginia Tech employees and students in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area starting Tuesday, Oct. 20.

This applies to employees and students who use or work in the following locations only: 

• Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church
• Virginia Tech Research Center – Arlington
• Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center in Alexandria
• The Gallery student housing
• Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center
• Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory