COVID-19 FAQs

As part of a healthcare organization, we are committed to improving the lives of people in the communities we serve. COVID-19 has impacted every single member of our Kettering Health family—and much of our community, and our best tool in the fight against this virus is the vaccine. We are dedicated to guiding each person to their best health, and we must do all we can to protect one another and provide a safe learning environment. Vaccination against COVID-19 protects you and everyone around you: your classmates, your family, your friends, your patients, your community.

Yes, it is. The U.S. Department of Justice has recently published an opinion stating that it is legal to require the COVID-19 vaccine.  Additionally, more and more colleges are announcing vaccine mandates as COVID-19 cases are increasing with the spread of the more contagious Delta variant, primarily affecting unvaccinated individuals.

Masks are no longer required on campus (main campus or Ollie Davis Building) for individuals who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated, must continue to wear a mask while on campus (main campus or Ollie Davis).

Vaccination against COVID-19 protects you and everyone around you: your classmates, your family, your friends, your patients, your community. The scientific evidence as well as real-world experiences show that the COVID-19 vaccines are both safe and effective against symptomatic infections, hospitalizations, and death. The COVID-19 vaccine saves lives, and as a healthcare education organization committed to whole-person care, we must do all we can to protect our students and our communities.

Individuals with prior COVID-19 infection should still be vaccinated, according to the CDC. Immunity from vaccination will be more long-term than what would naturally follow after having COVID-19. Though immunity does occur after infection, we don’t know how long it lasts. The COVID-19 vaccine is the best protection against the virus.

If you have been diagnosed with a COVID-19 infection, you may wait up to 90 days after your positive test before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Safety precautions and vaccines all help protect you from COVID-19, but they work in different ways. The vaccine helps prepare your immune system to fight the COVID-19 virus if you’re exposed to it. Masks and social distancing help limit your exposure and lower the chance of you spreading the virus. To end the pandemic, we need to use all the tools available.

All of the COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective. Pfizer’s vaccine is proven to be 95% effective, Moderna’s vaccine is 94% effective, and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is 72% effective. Typically, when a vaccine—the flu vaccine, for example—is 50% to 60% effective, it is considered successfully protective.

It’s vital that we all do everything we can to protect each other as well as our communities and end the pandemic.  Remote employees or students studying online may still have a need to come onto campus or enter into a healthcare facility and interact with others.

Students who do not meet the COVID-19 vaccine requirement by May 20^th, of completing the vaccination series or do not have an approved exemption will be subject to dismissal from Kettering College.

Yes, those who are employed by Kettering Health, who do not meet the COVID-19 vaccine requirement by Wednesday, December 1 and do not have an approved exemption will be subject to termination and/or lose their ability to conduct business on our campus.

Kettering College students, faculty and staff will need to submit a copy of their vaccination card or other documentation from their healthcare provider by emailing our Student Health Coordinator, Sarah Bayer (sarah.bayer@kc.lionandpanda.com). Students in clinical programs will also be required to submit proof of vaccination in your CastleBranch account. If you have any questions about submitting in CastleBranch, please communicate with your program’s Clinical Coordinator.

If you received your vaccine through a healthcare provider and were registered for its patient portal, your vaccine record may be available through your account. If you were vaccinated at a retailer such as Kroger Health Little Clinic or CVS, contact them to request a copy. You may also contact the Ohio Department of Health for a copy, as it maintains a vaccination information system.

Yes, Kettering Health will review exemption requests submitted by individuals who are precluded from getting the vaccine for medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs – this includes Kettering College students, staff and faculty. Such requests will be granted where legally required and supporting documentation may be required.  Please contact Sarah Bayer, Student Health Coordinator for additional information.

You can access the exemption forms here:

Request for Religious Exemption from COVID-19 Vaccine

Request for Medical Exemption from COVID-19 Vaccine

Kettering College is requiring ALL students who are registered for classes (in person, online or in clinical rotations) to submit proof of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Please send proof of vaccination i.e. completed series( Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson and Johnson) or 1^st shot of the series (Pfizer or Moderna) by  May 20, 2022.  If you are unable to meet this deadline date please contact and work directly with Sarah Bayer, sarah.bayer@kc.lionandpanda.com.  You must have your COVID vaccination series completed and submitted by June 28, 2022 to be in compliance with college vaccination requirements.

If you are in a clinical program, you MUST submit proof of your completed COVID-19 vaccination card by May 6th in order to be in compliance to begin classes on May 9, 2022.  Please submit proof of your vaccination as soon as possible to Sarah Bayer, Student Health Coordinator via email at sarah.bayer@kc.lionandpanda.com .

No, you can get any of the COVID-19 vaccines that were approved for emergency use by the FDA. All of the COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective and will help prevent COVID-19—regardless of what kind you get.

There are no out-of-pocket costs for the COVID-19 vaccine, but insurance will be billed. If you do not have insurance, you still qualify for the vaccine with no out-of-pocket cost. If on Medicare, please be sure to locate and bring your traditional Medicare ID card to your vaccination.

Yes, Kettering College clinical students, faculty, and staff, are required to receive the flu vaccine, or have an approved medical or religious exemption, each fall. More details will be available in the coming months about this year’s flu vaccine clinics.

Mild side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection against COVID-19 and most effects should go away in 1-2 days. It is strongly recommended that you schedule your vaccinations on days that would allow you to rest and recuperate from any of these side effects and not affect your ability to attend or participate in your classes. Students should refer to their respective program’s attendance policies if they must miss class due to side effects from the vaccination. If you are feeling ill, communicate with the student health coordinator, your program chair and other faculty, as we’ve been practicing all year long.

Employees are encouraged to receive the vaccine when they will be off the next day to minimize the need to call off related to a vaccine reaction. If employees are unable to perform their job duties because of a reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine, they may choose to utilize paid time off.

Yes, if you become vaccinated against COVID-19, you are eligible for rehire. You will not be guaranteed your previous position, but you can apply to open positions.

Yes, if you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must complete a consent form that you’ll receive before being vaccinated. Currently, minors are eligible to receive only the Pfizer vaccine.

Yes, the COVID-19 vaccine is required for all employees, employed medical staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors, and Kettering College students—regardless of location.

Learn all about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination planning in the United States and Ohio.

• CDC General COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• FDA COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine
• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
• Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

These locations will be open and available for students, please check for hours and availability. Students, faculty, and staff are required to wear masks in this spaces and to practice social distancing.

Due to clinical facility requirements, unvaccinated students, including those with approved exemptions from KH/KC, may not be able to participate in their program-required clinical rotations. This may result in the student’s inability to progress in their respective program and/or along the standard timeline. The programs will attempt to develop an alternative clinical site in which the student may participate and complete their clinical rotation, however this cannot be guaranteed due to program and/or clinical site requirements and restrictions.