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UW Tacoma is excited to introduce the new Wellness Vending Machine, located on the third floor of the Mattress Factory, near the elevator. The Wellness Vending Machine provides on-campus access to a wide range of low-cost health and medical supplies. Students, faculty, and staff can vend these items using a credit or debit card, and Apple Pay. Husky cards will not work at the Wellness Vending Machine.
For the first time ever at UW Tacoma, students have on-campus access to low-cost, FDA-approved over-the-counter daily hormonal contraception (i.e., birth control), emergency contraception, and pregnancy tests. The items are vended at the lowest price possible and do not show up on credit/debit card statements. Prices do not include state tax. Harm reduction supplies, including Narcan (available for free) and fentanyl test strips, are also accessible through the Wellness Vending Machine.
Exact prices listed at the Wellness Vending Machine.
UW Tacoma has partnered with SimpliChek to provide this service on campus.
Vended Items
A wide range of health and medical items are available to vend. Examples of items may include but are not limited to the following:
Sexual health supplies
- FDA-approved over-the-counter daily hormonal birth control OPill (30-day supply)
- FDA-approved over-the-counter emergency contraception (one dose)
- Pregnancy tests (2-pack)
First aid care, cold & flu symptoms
- Hand sanitizer
- Neosporin ointment
- Band-aids
- Emergen-c dietary supplement
- BreatheClear nasal inhaler
- Cough suppressant drops
Personal hygiene
- Toothpaste
- Oral mouthwash
- Floss
- Deodorant
- Menstrual pads, tampons, cup
- Hand lotion
- Chaptstick
- Pepto Bismol chewable tablets
- Contact lens solution and case
Pain relief
- Ibuprofen
- Tylenol
- Excedrin (for migraines)
Allergy relief
- Visine eye drops
- Claritin
- Benadryl
- Zyrtec
- Hydrocortisone cream
Emergency Contraception
Emergency contraception is not intended to be a regular or daily contraception method but rather a “backup” method for if regular birth control was not used during sex or if it was used during sex and failed, such as a condom breaking or if you missed a birth control pill. Emergency contraception is a safe way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex and is NOT a form of abortion.
Addressing myths and misunderstandings about emergency contraception is important. Emergency contraception is:
- NOT the same as the abortion pill
- NOT capable of preventing an established pregnancy
- NOT capable of harming a developing fetus
- NOT capable of affecting your ability to become pregnant in the future
- NOT protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS
Frequently Asked Questions
No. All a credit card statement will say is “Nayax” as that is the name of the credit card processor. No reference is made to SimpliChek (the Wellness Vending Machine company) or any of the purchased items.
No, both the daily contraception birth control (OPill) and the emergency contraception are over-the-counter medications that do not require a prescription. The Drug Facts are still available via the QR code on the kiosk.
Use the QR code on the kiosk to access a SimpliChek (the Wellness Vending Machine company) website with the Drug Facts for all medical and health related items.
Items are offered at cost as a part of SimpliChek’s, the Wellness Vending Machine company’s, service. Items are vended at the lowest price possible, especially sensitive items like pregnancy tests and harm reduction supplies.
Several factors were considered for the location of the kiosk that resulted in the 3rd floor of the Mattress Factory:
- The electrical capacity of the machine and building codes.
- The location needed to be student friendly and high traffic, yet private.
- Proximity to other campus health resources to increase awareness of resources.
- Proximity to Psychological and Wellness Services for kiosk management.
Items will be updated periodically based on sales data. The items offered in the kiosk can change as frequently as students desire.
Yes, please email uwtpaws@uw.edu to share your ideas or preferences on items offered in the kiosk. Requests will be taken into consideration but are not guaranteed.
Come to the Psychological and Wellness Services (PAWS) front desk and let them know. PAWS is located on the same floor, down the hallway away from the elevator.
Student health and well-being can have a direct impact on academic performance and success, retention, and the overall student experience. The American College Health Association’s Framework for a Healthy Campus endorses best practices that support student well-being, including access to a wide spectrum of health services and resources, such as access to low-cost health and medical items. The kiosk increases access to essential items that students may not be able to access financially, physically, safely, or otherwise on or off campus. Additionally, the kiosk contributes to a more “sticky” campus as students need to be on campus to use it.
The Wellness Vending Machine is managed by Student Health and Psychological and Wellness Services, and is a stepping stone towards reaching the Husky Health Coalition’s goal of establishing UWT as a well-being focused campus and implementing theAmerican College Health Association’s Framework for a Healthy Campus.
UW Tacoma has partnered with SimpliChek, a company that offers institutions of higher education turn-key wellness kiosks (e.g., vending machines) that offer a wide range of health and medical items.
Please email uwtpaws@uw.edu with questions and concerns about the Wellness Vending Machine.
