Vaccines are one of the greatest tools in the fight against the pandemic. We write today to announce that Penn will open the Penn Cares COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on Wednesday, April 14, and begin administering vaccines to eligible faculty, staff, and postdoctoral trainees. This phased approach is consistent with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) guidelines, which prioritizes by age adult members of the Penn community.
Please read the details below carefully for clinic location and hours, eligibility guidelines, and the process for scheduling. We strongly encourage eligible faculty, staff, and postdocs to schedule for the first available appointment.
The clinic will open by appointment only on April 14 and is located in the Gimbel Gymnasium at the Pottruck Health and Fitness Center, 3701 Walnut Street. Hours of operation may change weekly based on vaccine interest and availability.
Vaccines will be administered according to the phased approach outlined by PDPH. Everyone in the below groups must be a Philadelphia resident, as this is the current PDPH guideline. The following Phase 1c populations are eligible to be vaccinated beginning April 14:
- Part-time and full-time faculty, staff, and postdocs
- Retired and emeritus faculty
- Third-party workers and those living in on-campus housing currently eligible for Penn Cares testing
- Temporary workers
Schedule an appointment by going to www.coronavirus.upenn.edu and clicking on the “Schedule Test or Vaccination“ button on the homepage. From there, select “Schedule Vaccination,” read and accept consent to vaccinate, select “Participant,” and follow the instructions to schedule your vaccine appointments. When scheduling your first appointment, you must select a day and time for your second dose. You will receive an email confirmation. A reminder email will be sent one day prior to your appointments.
There are currently three vaccines available in the United States: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. The vaccines administered at the clinic will be selected by PDPH based on available supply. As a result, it will not be possible to choose which vaccine you will receive.
On the day of your appointment, you will be required to show your PennCard and a Green PennOpen Pass. If you have mobility issues or require language assistance, you can bring a companion to the appointment to support your needs, however, the companion is not permitted to be vaccinated. Your appointment will include a 15-minute observation period after the vaccination. For tips on scheduling your vaccine appointment and how to prepare for getting vaccinated, please review the COVID-19 Scheduling tip sheet.
The Penn Cares COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic is just one avenue to get vaccinated. We encourage everyone in the Penn community to explore all options available to receive your vaccination by accessing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccine Finder.
If you have any questions about the Penn Cares COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic, visit the Getting Vaccinated webpage or view these vaccine-related FAQs. You can also contact the COVID Resource Call Center at 215-573-7096 or email covidresource@upenn.edu.
We understand that many will be eager to be vaccinated as quickly as possible. However, the vaccine supply and distribution process remain fluid, and our ability to offer vaccines will be determined by the number of doses we are allotted by PDPH each week. Current guidelines also encourage initial access to older and more vulnerable individuals, as such we appreciate everyone’s patience as we offer as many appointments as possible every week.
We are grateful for the opportunity to offer vaccines to Penn community members as we look forward to a safe return to some on-campus operations in the fall, and a restoration of normalcy in our lives.