For information about COVID-19 vaccinations or testing for OSU-Tulsa students, faculty and staff, contact the OSU-Tulsa Student/Occupational Health Nurse at CHSCOVID19@okstate.edu or 918-281-2755. If you are symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19, contact the Student/Occupational Health Nurse immediately.

Members of the public seeking COVID-19 testing or vaccinations should visit the Tulsa Health Department website.

OSU-Tulsa COVID-19 Guidelines

Updated: Sept. 28, 2021

"Masks Expected" on Campus

Science continues to prove that mask wearing helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. With evidence that the Delta variant is more than twice as infectious and is leading to increased transmissibility when compared to other variants, even in vaccinated individuals, we must be vigilant as a campus community.

With that in mind, we expect masks to be worn indoors, in public on campus. This includes classrooms, laboratories and all indoor meetings and gatherings.

At this time, under Oklahoma law (EO 2021-16 and 70 O.S. 1210.189), we are not permitted to require the use of masks on campus.

Health Screening Questions

Every employee and student should be able to answer “no” to the following questions before coming to campus or their workplace each day:

1. Have you traveled internationally or been on a cruise in the last 14 days?
2. Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days?
3. Do you have a pending COVID-19 laboratory test?
4. Have you been in close contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14-days?
5. Are you experiencing any symptoms consistent with COVID-19?

Close contact: Within six feet of a confirmed case for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period in the two days before they test positive and/or symptom onset. 

COVID-19 Symptoms: Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.

If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS and contact Erika Teel or Dondie Hess, Employee/Student Health Nurses, at 918-281-2755 or chscovid19@okstate.edu. They will provide further guidance based on current CDC and public health guidelines.

Do I need to quarantine after I’ve been exposed to COVID-19?

Those who have been fully vaccinated and come in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they show no symptoms. According to the CDC, if you’ve been fully vaccinated and had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you should get tested 3-5 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. You should also wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative. You should isolate for 10 days if your test result is positive.

Individuals who have not been vaccinated should quarantine for seven days if they’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, as well as provide proof of a negative test, which should be taken after day five from point of exposure.

Those who are diagnosed with COVID-19 must isolate for 10 days. Learn more about quarantine procedures.

Contact Tracing/Cleaning of High-Touch Surfaces

When we become aware that an employee or student who has tested positive for COVID-19 has been in the workplace or on campus in the two days prior to their diagnosis or symptom onset, we adhere to the following process:

• Ask the confirmed case if they had what would be considered close contact with anyone in the workplace or on campus in the two days prior to their diagnosis or symptom onset.
• Interview other parties as appropriate to determine if there were any close contacts with the confirmed case.
• Schedule cleaning of high-touch surfaces in the area where confirmed case was present.

All employees in the Compliance department who conduct contact tracing have taken the Johns Hopkins Course on Contact Tracing.

Leave Usage When on Quarantine

Employees should use sick or annual leave.  COVID leave is no longer available. If you have any questions please contact your HR consultant.

COVID-19 Vaccine Availability

Employee/Student Health has access to both the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) single-dose vaccine and both mRNA two-dose vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna). The vaccine is available at no out-of-pocket cost regardless of insurance status. Please bring your insurance card with you to your appointment.

You can schedule an appointment to receive your COVID-19 vaccine by calling 918-281-2755 or emailing chsstudhealth@okstate.edu.   

Booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are now available for some people, including those in high-risk occupational and institutional settings. Last week, the FDA authorized and the CDC approved the vaccine to be administered as a booster at least six months after completion of the primary Pfizer vaccine series.

Pharmacies in the Tulsa area offering vaccines include:

• Walgreens
• CVS
• Sam’s Club
• Walmart

Find additional COVID-19 vaccine locations at Vaccines.gov.

Who is eligible? The CDC recommends:

• People 65 years and older should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
• People 50-64 years old with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
• People 18-49 years old with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and
• People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of an occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are not currently eligible for booster shots.

Many who are now eligible to receive a booster shot received their initial vaccine early in the vaccination program and will benefit from additional protection. A booster shot will help strengthen protection against severe disease in populations at high-risk for exposure to COVID-19 or the complications from severe disease.

Other COVID-19 Safeguards

• OSU-Tulsa has installed a Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization air cleaning system in each campus building. Third-party testing shows that Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization kills up to 98% of COVID virus with 60 minutes. This technology continually eliminates pathogens in all areas where the air circulates, including classrooms, offices and common spaces.
• Hand sanitizer stations are available near high touch areas like elevators.
• Masks are available upon request.

Common COVID-19 Myths

There are many myths circulating online and on social media regarding COVID and vaccine safety. It’s important to understand the facts and how you can best protect yourself and others. Our Student/Occupational Health team is also available to visit with any member of the OSU-Tulsa community who would like to discuss concerns about getting the vaccine. Email CHSCOVID19@okstate.edu or call 918-281-2755.

• MYTH: If I’ve already had COVID-19, I don’t need a vaccine.
  There’s not enough data to say how long immunity lasts after being infected with COVID-19. People who have been infected may still benefit from receiving the vaccine.
• MYTH: The COVID-19 vaccine can affect women’s fertility.
  The vaccine will NOT affect fertility. Confusion came from a false report that circulated on social media. The incorrect information said the spike protein on the coronavirus was the same as another spike protein involved in reproduction. The two spike proteins — the one on the coronavirus’ surface and the one involved in reproduction — are different. According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccine will not have an effect on pregnancy or the fertility of women hoping to become pregnant.
• MYTH: Getting the COVID-19 vaccine gives you COVID-19.
  The vaccine cannot give you COVID-19. The vaccine does not contain the virus itself. It includes a protein that helps your body recognize the virus so it can launch an immune response and fight it.
• MYTH: Getting the vaccine is worse than getting COVID-19.
  While the response to the vaccine varies from person to person, the vast majority of individuals report mild to no adverse reaction to receiving vaccinations.