Information on COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution for Phase 1b

 
To: Members of the University Community
From: Ka Yee C. Lee, Provost
Subject: Information on COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution for Phase 1b
Date: January 25, 2021
 
Today marks the beginning of Phase 1b vaccine distribution in Chicago. This phase will make vaccines available for frontline essential workers such as N-12 teachers and staff, as well as Chicagoans age 65 and older. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has additional information about the city’s vaccine distribution phases and planning.
 
The University of Chicago is prepared to support vaccine distribution during Phase 1b, in close coordination with CDPH and UChicago Medicine (UCM). Our goal is to facilitate vaccine access for all eligible members of the University community as well as over-65 UCM patients. Vaccinations will be provided at no cost to the recipients; insurance will be billed.
 
The Pfizer vaccine being used on our campus requires 2 doses approximately 3 weeks apart to be fully effective. The first vaccine doses for eligible University populations will be offered on Sunday, January 31 and Sunday, February 7. Because of this rapid rollout, we encourage all eligible individuals to sign up as soon as possible this week, and no later than the close of business on Friday, January 29. The second doses will be scheduled for Sunday, February 21 or Sunday, February 28 depending on which day the first dose was received. The appointment for your second dose will be made after you receive the first vaccination dose. More information on the University’s vaccine rollout is below.
 

  • N-12 Teachers and Staff. Teachers and staff at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and the University of Chicago Charter School are eligible to receive a vaccine through the UCM vaccine clinic in partnership with the University. These individuals will receive a separate email with a link to a registration form, which will include selecting the date and time preferences for the first dose. After registering, individuals will be contacted with additional details, including appointment date and location. To receive vaccinations in this round, eligible individuals should register as soon as possible. If you do not register for one of the two available dates (January 31 or February 7), you will not be able to get vaccinated through the University during Phase 1b.

  • Members of the University Community Age 65 and Older. Vaccines will be available for faculty emeriti who are 65 or over, and for people employed by the University who are 65 and older, including current faculty, OAAs, postdoctoral researchers, and staff. There are two possible ways for people in these populations to get vaccinated through UCM:

    • UCM Vaccine Clinic in Partnership with the University – People in the eligible over-65 University populations can register to be vaccinated on January 31 or February 7 for their first dose. These vaccinations will be provided through the UCM vaccine clinic in partnership with the University. You do not need to be a current UCM patient to register. All eligible individuals will receive a separate email with a link to a registration form, which will allow you to select the date and time preference for receiving your first dose of vaccine. After registering, individuals will be contacted with additional details, including appointment date and location.

    • Current UCM Patients – Individuals in this population who have been patients at the medical center at least once in the past 18 months may also be contacted through MyChart to schedule a vaccination appointment. This includes those who have been UCM inpatients, visited the Emergency Department, had a telehealth appointment, or received a COVID-19 test, among other services.

    • If in Doubt – Some UCM patients may prefer to set up an appointment using MyChart. If you have no preference, we recommend registering for the January 31 or February 7 dates, since this vaccine clinic has been arranged specifically for the University community.

  • UCM Patients Age 65 and Older. The UCM has begun vaccinating Phase 1b-eligible individuals who have been UCM patients at least once in the past 18 months. Efforts have initially focused on patients who live on the South Side, since the South Side has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and is a region where fewer residents have been vaccinated to date. The patient vaccination campaign will expand this week to include any patient 65 or over who has been seen by UCM in the past 18 months, regardless of where they live.

 
Please note that we encourage all eligible individuals to be vaccinated at their first opportunity, whether through the University or another authorized provider.
 
The University is also planning to establish its own vaccine clinic that will be utilized for Phase 1c vaccine distribution, tentatively scheduled to begin on March 31 for the City of Chicago, and Phase 2 vaccine distribution, tentatively scheduled to begin on May 31 for the City of Chicago. We anticipate that additional University personnel will be eligible to receive a vaccine during Phase 1c, and everyone 16 and older will be eligible during Phase 2.
 
As UChicago Medicine’s Dr. Stephen Weber notes in his Q&A on COVID-19 vaccination, when we get vaccinated, we are not just protecting ourselves, but also those around us. The vaccines currently in use, developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, have been found in clinical trials to be 94-95% effective after two doses. I encourage all members of our community who are eligible for vaccination to schedule an appointment. For additional resources and information on COVID-19 vaccination, please visit UChicago Medicine’s website. Thank you for your commitment to the health of our community.
 
Keywords: 
COVID-19