Dear University of Miami Students, Faculty, and Staff,
The State of Florida recently announced new eligibility guidelines for COVID-19 vaccinations. Beginning Monday, April 5, all residents age 18 or older will be eligible to receive the vaccine. The Florida Department of Health has indicated that residents age 16 or older will be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine beginning April 5, as well.
With this expanded vaccine eligibility, we wanted to share with you the latest information and links to helpful resources.
Each of the available vaccines has proven highly effective at preventing the spread of, and serious illness from, COVID-19. As we work to protect our University and South Florida communities, and as we plan for a fall semester that we anticipate will look much more like those before coronavirus, the University of Miami strongly encourages eligible individuals to sign up to receive the vaccine. However, it is not mandatory at this time.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY AT UHEALTH UHealth, the University of Miami Health System, has received vaccines from the state only sporadically and has been mandated by state regulations to provide vaccines only to select groups, such as those with comorbidities and patients at UHealth.
Given the limited supply and strict distribution guidelines, it is unclear at this time when UHealth may be able to make vaccine appointments widely available to members of the University community. Faculty and staff members who are interested in receiving the vaccine through UHealth should opt in through Workday; students interested in receiving the vaccine through UHealth should opt in through CaneLink. Once vaccines are available at UHealth, individuals will receive an email invitation to schedule an appointment.
AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES Because we do not know when vaccines will be available at UHealth, we strongly encourage students, faculty, and staff to utilize community resources, such as Walgreens, Publix, CVS, and other local pharmacies where you may be able to get vaccinated much sooner. Here are links to sites that may be helpful in finding and scheduling an appointment:
STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT FLORIDA RESIDENTS University of Miami students who are not Florida residents do qualify—as “seasonal residents”—for vaccines in the state. Additional documentation to prove seasonal residency is required. Details are available in the FAQs section of the state’s vaccine site.
TESTING STILL REQUIRED Students who are vaccinated must still comply with mandatory University COVID-19 testing if they reside on campus or are engaged in on-campus classes or activities.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES Fully vaccinated individuals should still wear masks, physically distance in public, and avoid crowds. Use of the Daily Symptom Checker is still required and masks must be worn on all University of Miami campuses.
ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINES According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of individuals in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in the nation’s history. More information about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines can be found on the CDC website.
For additional University of Miami COVID-19 information and resources, visit coronavirus.miami.edu or email covidcmo@miami.edu. |
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