Dear Members of the Campus Community,
I am writing to give you an update on University COVID-19 protocols. I hope your fall semester is going well. I’m sure you are busy, so I will make this as brief as possible.
VaccinationsAccording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals 12 and older are eligible for the updated (bivalent) booster that is effective against multiple COVID variants, and in order to be considered up to date with vaccines, they should receive the updated booster if it has been 2 months or longer since their last COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals under 18 can only receive the Pfizer updated booster. The updated Moderna booster is only available for those 18 and over. Being up-to-date on the vaccine is particularly important because it will be more effective against new variants of the virus, helping us to both keep our community safe, and to function with less disruption.
The University has the new updated vaccines in stock and will administer them free of charge. You can sign up for the vaccine on the Testing and Vaccine Resources Page. (The updated vaccines are also available in the New York City area.) Members of the campus community must receive the updated vaccine as soon as they are eligible—individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days will have the deadline for compliance adjusted accordingly.
All University faculty, students, and staff must be fully up-to-date as defined by the CDC as of Tuesday, November 1, 2022.
Individuals can upload proof of vaccination to VitalCheck by clicking on the link text “Has your vaccination status recently changed?” on the daily VitalCheck email/text message.
COVID-19 and flu vaccines both reduce illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. As flu season approaches and COVID-19 vaccine recommendations are updated, individuals should consider receiving both vaccinations at the same time if they are eligible and the timing is appropriate. The immune response and possible side effects are generally the same whether individuals receive one vaccine at a time or two, according to the CDC.
Reporting a Positive Test and Contact TracingThe methods for reporting a positive COVID-19 test remain the same, but the University has changed its contact tracing and isolation procedures. Public Safety contact tracers will contact individuals with positive tests to determine the start date of their symptoms, and advise them of isolation and masking protocols available on the Isolation and Quarantine Procedures page.
TestingIndividuals may obtain a free PCR test on campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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