COVID-19 Testing Services & Vaccine Distribution
Testing Services
The University of Nebraska at Omaha Office of Health Security has made COVID-19 testing readily and widely available to UNO students, faculty, and staff, as well as their families.
Scott Campus Testing Center | 6450 Pine Street
For: UNO students, faculty, and staff
All UNO students, faculty, and staff, including those who are in quarantine or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, may be tested at the UNO COVID Testing Center. Parking is available in Lot 14 across from Scott Conference Center on Pine Street.
Universal Swab Center | 5710 S. 144th Street
For: UNO students, faculty, staff, and their families or household members
Time slots for scheduling are:
Monday - Friday: 8 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Saturday & Sunday: 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.
This testing program is only offered during selected times, meaning it is not available for walk-in service.
For family or household members, insurance information or personal address for billing will be obtained at the time of collection.
If insurance will not cover the service, the individual will be responsible for the test cost of $65.00. The test used for family members will only detect COVID-19 and not influenza.
UNO student, faculty, and staff member registration (no cost)
Family or household member of UNO student, faculty, or staff registration (billed)
Test Nebraska and Test Iowa
For: All UNO students, faculty, and staff
Anyone can be tested for COVID-19 at no cost through TestNebraska or TestIowa at one of their locations.
If you are waiting for test results
If you have symptoms and get tested for COVID-19 it is crucial that you quarantine until you receive the results of your test. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, submit a BRT form to report your status so a member of the Office of Health Security can contact you with the next steps.
If you are deciding whether or not to get tested
If you have been in direct contact (within six feet for more than 15 minutes) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and/or are generally not feeling well, schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 test.
COVID-19 has an incubation period of up to 14 days and can be transmitted asymptomatically, which means you can spread the virus to others even if you aren’t showing symptoms.
If you test positive for COVID-19
Students, faculty, and staff who receive a COVID-19 test through the UNO Testing Center will be contacted by the UNO Office of Health Security for further guidance.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, submit a BRT form to report your positive case so a member of the Office of Health Security can contact you with the next steps.
Vaccine Distribution
January 26, 2021 Announcement
The Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) has announced that individuals in the general public, ages 65 and older, and individuals with high-risk underlying health conditions, ages 18 to 64, may register to receive notifications for COVID-19 vaccination options and updates as the state makes plans to transition to the 1B Phase of vaccine distribution.
Our UNO team is working closely with the DCHD to provide guidance and resources to our students, faculty, and staff on the next step for vaccine distribution in our community. In the meantime, signing up for notifications from DCHD, as well as regularly checking your UNO email, will make sure you are informed about the options available to you. The Douglas County Health Department updates its current vaccination status page regularly.
Please note that details on defining what underlying conditions qualify someone to be in this group are currently in progress by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), but are expected to closely follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance that prioritize conditions that could lead to increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are we preparing to distribute the vaccine?
A multidisciplinary team from UNO has been meeting to outline how vaccines will be distributed, in collaboration with the Douglas County Health Department and Nebraska DHHS. We will follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
When will vaccines be available for UNO students, faculty, and staff?
Right now, we do not have information about when vaccines will be available. According to the DHHS website, Phase 1B is expected to begin in mid to late January.
How many doses will be allocated to UNO?
We do not know exactly how many doses we will receive. We will share more information as it becomes available.
Will I know if I am on a UNO list to receive a vaccine?
Each campus unit was asked for a list of individuals which was forwarded to DCHD for inclusion in Phase 1B. As the number of vaccine doses available becomes clearer, we will work with DCHD to get as many UNO faculty and staff vaccinated, either in Phase 1B and/or in future phases.
Is the vaccine mandatory?
No. At this time, the vaccine is not mandatory and will be offered on a voluntary basis.
Will we be able to choose which vaccine we receive?
At this time, we do not know the logistics or availability of the two vaccine products, so it is not possible to select which vaccine we will receive.
If you get the Pfizer vaccine initially, does the second dose also need to be Pfizer?
Yes. You must finish the vaccine series with the same product you received for the first dose. This is true for both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccine series.
Will this be an annual vaccination similar to the flu vaccination?
At this point, we do not know the answer. The need for recurrent COVID-19 vaccine will depend upon the duration of immunologic response, which has not yet been identified.