We know that many of you are eager to receive COVID-19 vaccination and are wondering when and where this might be possible. Today we are writing to share the most current information.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts vaccination distribution and administration plan can be found at here. During Phase 1, most of our students and clinical faculty, as well as certain other UMMS staff, were eligible to receive the vaccine through UMass Memorial’s allotment of vaccines from the state. This week Phase 2 began; individuals age 75 and over are now eligible to receive a vaccine.
Currently, the Medical School does not have an allotment of doses to administer to UMMS employees. Therefore, if you are eligible to be vaccinated according to the state’s guidelines, we encourage you to pursue vaccination through your personal health care providers or through public vaccination sites.
To do so, visit mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine, then follow the steps to confirm your eligibility, review the list of vaccination sites, and make an appointment.
Most people will be eligible to receive a vaccine in Phase 3 of the state’s plan, which is anticipated to begin in April. If the availability of COVID-19 vaccine for members of the UMMS community changes at any time, we will share that information with you as soon as possible.
Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is optional but strongly recommended. Even after you have been vaccinated, it is imperative to continue to follow safety protocols such as wearing a mask, staying physically distant from others, and isolating if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. Faculty, students and staff who are participating in the UMMS surveillance testing protocol should also continue weekly surveillance testing after they have been vaccinated. The UMMS COVID-19 testing dashboard, travel policy and other resources can be found at umassmed.edu/coronavirus/.
