COVID-19 Update from UMass Public Health Promotion Center
Ann Becker and Jeffrey Hescock, co-directors of the Public Health Promotion Center (PHPC), emailed the campus community on Thursday, announcing the availability of the bivalent COVID-19 and flu vaccines on campus and encouraged faculty, staff and students to receive the COVID-19 booster shot as soon as they are eligible.
That email is as follows:
Dear Campus Community,
The fall semester is fully underway, and we appreciate the collective efforts of our entire community to adhere to campus public health protocols. As the virus that causes COVID-19 continues to change, one important strategy is to keep your vaccine protection up to date by getting a newly formulated COVID-19 booster.
The FDA recently authorized the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines. These updated vaccine boosters are designed to give you broad protection, including against the earlier COVID-19 strain and the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the Omicron variant. The BA.4 and BA.5 strains are predicted to circulate widely this fall and winter.
The university highly recommends that all faculty, staff and students get vaccinated with the new Pfizer or Moderna Bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine as soon as they are eligible. Anyone with at least two months’ time since completing their primary or booster vaccine is eligible. The Moderna Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for individuals 18 years of age and older, and the Pfizer Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for individuals 12 years of age and older.
The Public Health Promotion Center (PHPC) in partnership with the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing and University Health Services (UHS) will continue to provide convenient vaccine clinics on the lower level of the Campus Center for anyone eligible. Starting on Thursday, Sept. 22, vaccine clinics are set for Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for anyone 12 years or older. For children under 12, a clinic will be held every Thursday from 4 to 5:30 pm. Appointments will be required for the month of September, then in October walk-ins will be accepted, but we encourage everyone to book an appointment. In addition, please visit the Massachusetts COVID-19 vaxfinder for other locations throughout the region.
As influenza season is almost here, we strongly encourage you to get your flu vaccination as well. Flu shots are offered at all PHPC COVID-19 clinics. When you come in for your COVID-19 vaccine just ask to receive your flu shot as well – it is quick and easy.
As we have returned to campus, we are seeing cases of COVID-19 within the community. It’s important for all members of our campus to continue to follow public health protocols.
Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms each day before coming to campus. Anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should wear a mask, stay home and get tested. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 are required to isolate for a minimum of five days before returning to class or work or attending events, and to report the positive test to testing@umass.edu. You should continue to wear a mask for an additional five days. For more information, refer to the guidance on isolation and precautions for individuals with COVID-19 or exposed to COVID-19.
We encourage you to wear a mask whenever you are in a crowded environment and remember to respect an individual’s masking decisions. Free KN95 masks and antigen (at-home) tests are available in vending machines located on the lower level of the Campus Center and at UHS.
It is the collective responsibility of all of us to follow public health protocols for a healthy UMass community and a successful fall semester.
Sincerely,
Co-Directors of the Public Health Promotion Center (PHPC)
Ann Becker, Public Health Director
Jeffrey Hescock, Executive Director of Environmental Health and Safety