Third UW Student Wins Tuition, Fees Grand Prize for Reporting Vaccination

A junior from Tucson, Ariz., will receive up to $4,500 in tuition and fees after winning the third grand prize in a drawing for University of Wyoming students who have reported being vaccinated for COVID-19.

The student, a business management of human resources major who asked to not be publicly identified, won the prize after his name was drawn last week from among students who have reported their COVID vaccinations on the Student Health Service patient portal.

During the first week of the fall semester, a political science major from Virginia -- who opted to not be publicly identified -- won the first grand prize of up to $4,500 in tuition and fees in UW’s student vaccination reporting incentive program. Then, in late September, Echo Primm, a junior studying biology from Aurora, Colo., won the second tuition and fees prize.

The name of the fourth and final tuition and fees winner will be drawn the week of Feb. 21. The award would be reduced by any scholarship amount a student is awarded. The prize is meant to cover only costs the student or family is obligated to pay out of pocket.

While vaccinations are not required for UW students and employees -- instead, they are strongly encouraged -- students should report their vaccinations once they have received them. This allows the university to track overall vaccination numbers. The information is not being used for any other purpose, except to enter those who have reported their vaccinations into the drawings for prizes. The university’s privacy protocols are being followed.

The winning names are drawn from the total pool of students who have submitted proof of complete vaccination to the patient portal. Students who have already reported to the portal are discouraged from doing so again, as it creates more work for the Student Health Service staff and does not increase the chances of winning a prize. However, students are strongly encouraged to report any booster doses they receive to ensure accuracy of their vaccination record on file at Student Health.

To upload documentation to the Student Health Service patient portal, take a photo of your vaccination document and upload the picture here: http://patientportal.uwyo.edu, using your regular UW user ID and password. This is the same portal where students report their mandatory vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella.

Additionally, students can report their vaccinations by emailing photos of their vaccination documents to Student Health at studenthealth@uwyo.edu.

Those who have received and reported booster shots can avoid quarantine if exposed to people infected with COVID-19.

As of Monday, 3,921 of UW’s students -- 47.7 percent -- had reported receiving at least one vaccine dose to the Student Health Service. There currently are 70 active cases of COVID-19 among the UW community -- 30 students off campus, 22 students on campus and 18 employees.

Vaccination Clinic Today

UW students can receive Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters as well as flu shots during a special clinic at UW’s Student Health Service today (Tuesday) from 1-4 p.m.

The Moderna boosters will be available for free to students 18 and older who completed their primary COVID-19 vaccination series -- Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson -- at least five months ago. Moderna doses also will be available for those who wish to start or complete the primary two-dose series. Booster shots have been shown to be effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalization, even with the Omicron variant.

Students should make appointments for vaccinations and boosters during the 1-4 p.m. time window by calling (307) 766-2130.

In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine clinic today, the Student Health Service is offering flu shots at the same time, and students may receive both, if needed. While the COVID-19 boosters are free, the flu shot costs $29. The clinic will bill the student medical insurance for those who have it. For those who do not, the clinic will bill that charge to their student accounts and provide them the documentation needed to self-submit to their own insurance for reimbursement.

In addition to the Student Health Service clinic, UW students and employees can receive COVID-19 vaccines and boosters at several locations in Laramie. They include: Walmart, Walgreens, Pole Mountain Pharmacy, Ridley’s, Stitches Acute Care, Laramie Pediatrics, Albany Community Health Clinic, Ivinson Medical Group, the Downtown Clinic and Family Physicians of Laramie.

For more information, call the UW Student Health Service at (307) 766-2130 or email studenthealth@uwyo.edu.

Students who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons may participate in the drawings by completing a vaccination exemption form found on the Student Health Service website.