Welcome
News, resources, and updates for the Virginia Tech community
Vaccine distribution
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has the lead role in vaccine distribution. The VDH’s New River Health District (NRHD) is managing the vaccine rollout for the Blacksburg campus, while other health districts are doing the same for other Virginia Tech locations. The university is actively supporting VDH and local health district efforts to ensure that vaccines are distributed to those who qualify under the guidelines of phases 1a and 1b.
While a timeline for vaccine distribution to those in phase 1c – which includes many university employees and students – is unknown, continued patience and vigilance toward all public health guidelines is critical. Before and after vaccination, each person should continue to wear masks, maintain physical distance, avoid crowds, and wash hands in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
For those who live in the New River Valley region, visit NRVRoadtoWellness.com to sign up for email news and get information related to the vaccine.
Read more about the vaccine and plans for its distribution from the Virginia Department of Health.
The Latest
- Virginia Tech employees begin receiving COVID-19 vaccine
- Demand high as COVID-19 vaccine available to more people in region
- Campus operations geared up for spring semester
- Virginia Tech COVID-19 lab ready to ramp up testing for thousands of student samples
Virginia's State Health Commissioner talks about the COVID-19 Vaccine
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
Staying healthy
Remember the three Cs and the M … and now, the F.
- Avoid Close contact situations. Maintain distance from other people. Six feet doesn’t mark a magic barrier, but the particles do dilute with distance.
- Avoid Crowds. Being in a large crowd will increase the chance that you will be around someone infected with the virus and that the virus will spread to others.
- Avoid Closed, poorly ventilated spaces. Imagine a cigarette smoker being in the same space as you. Will you take in any smoke?
- Wear Masks.
Get your Flu Shot. Find more details here.
Community Wellness Commitment
Updated Aug. 6
Be committed. Be well.
- Pledge to care for the health and well-being of others
- 10 tenets that guide our return for the fall semester

Videos
Be Committed. Be Well with the HokieBird.
COVID-19 lab ready for testing
Installing tents to give Hokies more space on campus