Vaccination and testing
Following recent KAUST and Kingdom announcements, and after receiving feedback from the KAUST community, it is important to clarify elements of the current vaccination requirements and KAUST testing program. Please take the time to read this information before May 23.
Current vaccination status at KAUST
For the most up-to-date information, you can access the vaccine dashboard here.
As of 8:15 on Sunday, May 9, KAUST had 4,732 people (excluding service providers) who had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That represents 74.6% of the 18+ population and 77.6% of the 18+ population of KAUST residents only.
We are grateful for everyone’s commitment so far, but this still means that about 1 in 4 people who are eligible for the vaccine have not taken a first dose yet.
Vaccination and testing requirements
As per the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) announcement of May 7, it will soon be mandatory for all employees in the Kingdom to take the COVID-19 vaccine. This shows the emphasis the Kingdom is setting on vaccinations as the key route out of the pandemic and back to normality. All individuals should continue their efforts to obtain a vaccine appointment through Sehhaty.
In line with previous announcements, KAUST will continue with its plan to require everyone to return to the workplace May 23.
Each individual at KAUST currently has the freedom to choose whether they take the vaccine or are tested on a weekly basis, whereas many universities globally have made vaccines mandatory.
The KAUST testing program continues to provide proactive mitigation to our community and will compose of two main elements from May 23 onwards – monthly testing and weekly testing.
Monthly testing
The monthly testing will include a PCR test at KAUST and applies to individuals who are immune on the Tawakkalna app by one of the following:
- fully vaccinated with 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine or
- receiving a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or
- immune by infection e.g. tested positive in the previous six months (see below for details of how to qualify if testing positive out of Kingdom).
Weekly testing
Weekly testing is being implemented as a public health measure to help mitigate against the virus for individuals and the most at risk in our community.
Everyone aged 18 and above who have NOT received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine or who have NOT tested positive in the previous 6 months on the Tawakkalna App, the following applies:
- You may test outside of KAUST (PCR test only) provided:
- The test is conducted during the same weekly time period
- The results are shared with the testing team (covid19.tp@kaust.edu.sa) on a weekly basis – no later than Saturday at 5:00 p.m. each week
- The testing must take place outside normal work hours
- You may take a Rapid Antigen test in KAUST:
- Testing will be available Sunday through Thursday and will be accessed by an online booking system (more details to follow)
- Those eligible for the vaccine but choose not to take it, will be charged 180 SR to cover the costs of providing the test only. The fee will be automatically deducted from monthly salary (including sponsors of dependents and helpers).
- The test is a nasal swab – please note that this is NOT a nasopharyngeal swab and as such the swab is only inserted into the outer nasal cavity, usually only one side.
Eligibility for the vaccine can be determined by following the steps and answering questions on the Sehhaty app while booking for a vaccination. Those who are not eligible for the vaccine or feel they are medically exempt should initially discuss this with their line manager or a doctor.
Pregnancy and COVID-19 vaccines
In alignment with other national health bodies, the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Saudi Arabia has reviewed the evidence and is clearly stating vaccinations are critical to mitigating COVID-19. They are encouraging all eligible citizens and expatriates to get vaccinated. The most recent update to the MoH guidelines, issued on April 27, includes recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for those who are pregnant, planning pregnancy or in the immediate postpartum.
The recommendation is for all vaccine brands and is based on the growing evidence of the vaccines’ safety during pregnancy, opposed to the increased risk of getting severely ill with COVID-19 when pregnant. On this basis, KAUST also strongly encourages our community, including those pregnant, to be vaccinated.
As an alternative to those that are eligible but decide not to vaccinate, weekly testing can help reassure those individuals and our community that they have a safe community and workplace.
Monitoring
In order to ensure adherence to this program of testing, KAUST will be introducing additional monitoring. This will be carried out through the Kingdom’s Tawakkalna App or a new KAUSTCentral COVID-19 Passport app which will be launched shortly.
Each week, this app will show the COVID safety status of each qualifying individual via a green compliant status or a red non-compliant status.
Everyone who is fully or partially vaccinated, is immune by infection or anyone who has complied with the previous weekly or monthly testing requirements will obtain a green status. Those who do not comply with the weekly or monthly testing will receive a red status.
Those who are green can continue to go about their business as normal, adhering to the Keeping KAUST Safe guidelines.
Those who have a red status will be required to remain isolated at home until they have a test and receive a negative test result. This will also mean restricted access to community facilities like recreation clubs and dining facilities.
Each week after the 5:00 p.m. Saturday cut off, the COVID-19 Passport status will be updated for the following week.
Updated international return travel quarantine requirements
In line with the recent MoH announcement concerning international travel for Saudi nationals, KAUST has updated its quarantine requirements for Saudi nationals within the KAUST community who are returning to the Kingdom from international travel. Please take some time to review the below information which needs to be followed when returning to KAUST.
Important to know:
- From May 17, Saudi citizens aged 8 and over will be required to quarantine for 7 days upon return to KAUST from overseas
- A PCR test is required after the 7 days
- Once you have received a negative result from your PCR test you may exit quarantine
- Under 8 years old are exempt from taking the PCR test
All other quarantine requirements remain unchanged for the time being i.e. for expatriates returning from international travel, the same entry to Kingdom requirements and quarantine durations are in place as previously announced.
For more information, please contact quarantinesupport@kaust.edu.sa
Testing positive outside of KAUST – do I have to participate in the weekly testing?
If you have not been vaccinated and:
- Tested positive for COVID-19 outside of Saudi Arabia in the last 6 months or
- If you test positive in the future while overseas
you are still required to participate in the weekly testing program at KAUST. This is unless you are able to provide evidence to the MoH of a positive test.
You can provide the evidence by emailing proof of the positive test along with a copy of your passport, Iqama and mobile number to 937@moh.gov.sa. Once this information has been received, authenticated by MoH and updated in their systems, you will receive the green status ‘immune by infection’ on the Tawakkalna app. Tawakkalna will move your status to ‘immune by infection’ 10 days after your positive test and this will remain in place for 6 months. During this time you will not have to participate in the weekly testing program. You will only need to test monthly when the MoH come to KAUST until the 6 month time period has elapsed.
Had a vaccine out of Kingdom – how do I register this in Tawakkalna?
If you have had a vaccine out of Kingdom and want to register this with the MoH so it is represented in the Tawakkalna App please provide the evidence by emailing proof of the positive test along with a copy of your passport, Iqama and mobile number to 937@moh.gov.sa. Once this information has been received, authenticated by MoH and updated in their systems, this will be represented in the Tawakkalna app.
Personal and business visitors update
All personal and business visitors entering KAUST must have either:
- Received a minimum of one COVID-19 vaccine dose or
- Be considered immune by recovery of COVID-19 within the last 6 months.
A screenshot of the Tawakkalna app will be required at the time of application in the VMS system for both the host and the proposed visitor(s).All personal and business visitors must have the ‘Tawakkalna’ app installed on their mobile phones and may be required to show their status of immune/green profile upon arrival at the gate.
May 9 COVID-19 update
As of May 9 at 8:15 a.m., there were five new positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed at KAUST since the last bulletin (published on May 2, 2021).
- All five cases were mildly symptomatic. Four presented to KAUST Health and the remaining one was tested in Jeddah. There was no connections between households.
All positive cases remain in quarantine and contact tracing has been completed.
For the most up-to-date information, please check the KAUST COVID-19 Dashboard
The 14-day positivity rate* at KAUST is currently unavailable** as of May 9, 2021.
We’d like to thank all community members for practicing physical distancing, the wearing of face coverings, hand washing and adherence to the Keeping KAUST Safe guidelines.
If you have symptoms, please stay home and call KAUST Health at 012 808 0940.
* Positivity rate = % of positive tests returned from the total number of tests taken during a 14-day period. Excludes where the result is still pending or the swab was rejected.
** This rate will only be displayed if the number of tests conducted achieves a given significant threshold (724 tests). Over the past 14-day period, 598 tests were conducted, with 7 positive cases.
See the most up-to-date information about KAUST COVID-19 cases anytime by clicking on the button below or visiting – hse.kaust.edu.sa
Where to turn when you need to know
- Facilities Management – 012 (808) 0959 or email FMCallcenter@kaust.edu.sa
- Human Resources – 012 (808) 2055 or email HRHelpdesk@kaust.edu.sa
- Health, Safety & Environment – visit the website
- Graduate Affairs – 012 (808) 3412 or schelpdesk@kaust.edu.sa
- KAUST Health – 012 (808) 0940 or visit the KAUST Health website
- Wellness services – visit the Health, Safety and Environment website
