Hammond Health Center will have different hours during Thanksgiving Break.  
We will be closed for clinic appointments from Friday November 19 at 5pm until November 29 at 8am.
Our business office staff will be available by phone on Monday November 22 and Tuesday November 23 from 8am-4pm.
Please call 607-274-3177 to speak with business office staff. If you have a health concern while the health center is closed, please contact the nearest urgent care or emergency department, or call 911. 

Over break, Ithaca College students who remain on campus and experience symptoms of COVID-19 should go to Emerson Hall for testing. Students will be able to have rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 and will also submit a saliva sample for PCR COVID-19 testing. The PCR test will be taken to the lab at Cayuga Medical Center once daily. For the Thanksgiving holiday week, be aware that testing is available in Emerson Hall on November 19 - 23 between 9am and 3:30pm. There will be no testing on campus available November 24 - 28. Please submit your saliva sample test to the Emerson Hall bin only. Off-campus students are encouraged to test off campus but may submit a sample at Emerson Hall if needed. Once you have registered with Cayuga Health System, your test results will come to your Cayuga Health System patient portal. You will be instructed to self-isolate until your PCR test results are available. 

If you require care during this time please refer to our Emergency and After Hours care site.

What should I do if I am exposed to someone with COVID-19?

Please wear your mask, social distance, and monitor for any COVID-19 symptoms. If you have been named as a close contact to a person positive for COVID-19, you will be contacted by the Tompkins County Health Department contact tracing team for next steps. The CDC recommends that close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case get tested for COVID-19 at day 3-5.  Students who have been named a close contact of a positive case may submit a saliva test in a collection bin on campus at day 3-5.

What should I do if I develop symptoms of COVID-19?

If you become symptomatic with COVID-19 symptoms, please wear your mask, practice social distancing, and go to Emerson Hall for testing. You will be able to have rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 and will also submit a saliva sample for PCR COVID-19 testing. The PCR test will be taken to the lab at Cayuga Medical Center once daily. Please arrive at Emerson Hall for testing between 9am and 3:30pm to allow for same day courier. Please submit your saliva sample test to the Emerson Hall bin only. Off-campus students are encouraged to test off campus but may submit a sample at Emerson Hall if needed. Once you have registered with Cayuga Health System, your test results will come to your Cayuga Health System patient portal. You will be instructed to self-isolate until your PCR test results are available. To have your Badge cleared to green once your PCR result is negative, please contact the Ithaca College Testing Coordinator at testing@ithaca.edu. 

What should I do if I receive a positive test result for COVID-19?

During Hammond Health Center hours, please call 607-274-3177 for assistance. When the Hammond Health Center is closed, please call the Ithaca College Wrap Around Care Manager at 607-227-0402 for next steps. 

GPS to Emerson Hall testing site

Emerging evidence shows that vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infections is decreasing over time. Therefore, the Centers for Disease, Control, and Prevention (CDC) now recommends a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine for certain populations. Here is the link from the CDC:

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p1021-covid-booster.html. 

There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States.  For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

• 65 years and older
• Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings 
• Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions 
• Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings 

For those who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. There is an option to receive the same vaccine type as originally given or receive a different type as the booster. The CDC recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

There are no COVID-19 booster shots available on the Ithaca College campus. Here is a link to the Tompkins County Health Department website with info about local pharmacy vaccination information and New York State Operated Vaccination Sites.

https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/covid19vaccinesites#nys-clinics

Ithaca College REQUIRES that all enrolled students for the 2021-22 academic year MUST receive the COVID-19 vaccine and be fully immunized PRIOR to their arrival for the fall semester. Students who have not submitted vaccine documentation to the Hammond Health Center and have not received a college-approved exception to this requirement WILL NOT be able to complete move-in and/or participate in fall classes/extracurricular activities. 

**IMPORTANT REMINDER**

You are not considered fully immunized for COVID-19 until 14-plus days following your FINAL vaccine dose. If you have received a two-dose (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine series, this will occur 14 days following your SECOND vaccine dose. You must receive both a FIRST and SECOND DOSE in order for it to be counted.

**UPCOMING DATES AND DEADLINES**

• JUNE 14-20 | Students who are receiving a two-dose vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna) should plan to receive their first dose no later than this week.
• JULY 18 | Students who are receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine should plan to receive their dose by this date.
• JULY 19 | Deadline for students to submit vaccine documentation to Hammond Health Center.
  DIRECTIONS FOR SUBMITTING VACCINATION DOCUMENTATION.

  • Step 1: Go to the myICHealth web portal (either from the apps.ithaca.edu web page - there is a tile called "MYICHEALTH" or by accessing this Hammond Health Center website - click myICHealth Login on left side of screen)

  • Step 2: Log in using Netpass Username and Password and then confirm Date of Birth.

  • Step 3: Choose Medical Clearances tab from the menu on the left

  • Step 4: Choose COVID vaccine and click Update button and then Upload button to upload vaccine card

  • Step 5: Enter date(s) vaccine was given and select the name of vaccine from the dropdown menu.

Health Center Hours:
Open 8am- 5pm Mondays - Friday
(CLOSED Saturday, Sunday)

NEED CARE WHEN WE ARE CLOSED? 
Find local resources here on the Emergency and After Hours page.

LEARN ALL ABOUT THE NEW BADGE SYSTEM

TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT AN EMERGENCY

In an emergency call 911, or call the Ithaca College Public Safety at (607) 274-3333. This includes medical, mental health, and alcohol/drug-related emergencies. 

Campus phones: 911 calls go directly to Ithaca College security for the fastest response. Ithaca College will coordinate with local emergency services.

Cell phones: 911 calls go directly to local 911 dispatch.

Students must call 607-274-3177 for an appointment before coming to the Health Center and will be directed how to proceed. In order to comply with social distancing recommendations and to reduce the spread of illness, no one will be allowed into the Health Center without talking to our staff on the phone first.  There will be no web-booking available at this time.

Our dispensary will be available for over-the-counter medication purchases. Students should contact the Health Center prior to coming over so that we can best accommodate your needs.

• Medicar services are available limited hours Monday - Friday.
  Please call Hammond Health Center 607-274-3177 to schedule a ride to an off-campus appointment. 

We ask that students who are no longer on campus reach out to their home providers for prescription refills, etc.  If this is not possible, students who have been prescribed medication at the health center may contact us via the web portal or by phone to communicate with their Hammond Health Center provider.