COVID-19 Health and Wellness Information |
Next week more than 3,800 graduating students will be honored at the University’s first in-person commencement ceremony since COVID-19 changed how we live, work, and study. It is truly a celebration, not only of our students’ academic successes but also of our turning a corner in this pandemic. Because of the hard work and collaboration of the global medical community, we have three vaccines that have stemmed the potentially explosive growth of coronavirus cases and deaths. And, because of you, we made it through another semester with case counts far below both the state and national averages. For that, I want to express my great pride and enduring gratitude.
I also make a request—please, if you have not gotten vaccinated, do so as soon as you are able. If you have friends and family who have not gotten vaccinated, urge them to do so. And, until you do, make sure that you strictly adhere to the COVID-19 safety measures of wearing masks in public areas (even outdoors), practicing good hand hygiene, and remaining physically distant. For everyone’s safety, including our patients, we must still ask that everyone wear a mask and complete the daily symptom checker across all our campuses.
These summer months will be crucial for continuing with the amazing progress that we have already made. Thank you for your continued vigilance.
Roy E. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Chair, Department of Medicine
Chief Medical Officer for COVID-19 |
VACCINES FOR CHILDRENThe Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide as early as next week whether to authorize the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 15. Once that approval takes place, Jackson Health System will begin administering first doses of the vaccine to patients 12 to 18 years old at eight locations:
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Holtz Children’s Hospital emergency department
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Jackson North Medical Center pediatric emergency department
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All five UHealth/Jackson Urgent Care Centers
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Mobile unit at the soon-to-be-open Jackson West Medical Center
Second doses will be administered 21 days later at the same location for each patient. All patients will require proof of age, such as a birth certificate, passport, driver’s license, or state-issued ID card. Patients under 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
Once the FDA approves the new age criteria, you can schedule an appointment through Jackson Health.
UPLOAD YOUR VACCINE CARD If you’ve been vaccinated outside UHealth—and particularly if you’ve been vaccinated outside the state of Florida—please be sure to upload your COVID-19 vaccine card to your MyUHealthChart account. This is an important step to keep your medical record updated, and it’s an easy process. Review this tip sheet for step-by-step instructions.
VACCINE MYTHBUSTERSThis week we conducted a town hall to answer questions that some of you have about the COVID-19 vaccine. We understand there is a lot of misinformation out there—including false rumors about infertility and side effects—creating hesitancy to receive a shot.
If you did not have a chance to attend, here is a link to a recording. For more information, go to our newly updated vaccine fact page.
WHAT’S YOUR WHY?As you consider getting vaccinated and speaking with people who may be vaccine-hesitant, it may be helpful to consider your “why.” There are many reasons to get the vaccine, outside of scientific discussions about herd immunity, including reasons that speak to the heart of the matter like being able to hug your loved ones that you have not seen for a long time, being able to go to a music concert, or being able to travel unrestricted.
METAMORPHOSISThis week I was reminded of one of my favorite children’s books, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. If you have never read it, it is about a caterpillar that eats for seven days, retreats into a cocoon, and emerges as a beautiful butterfly. This book is a lovely tale about transformation. In fact, the author himself said it was a book about hope. As we are emerging from our COVID-19 cocoons, we can all look back at what we have learned this year and emerge as a better version of ourselves. |
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We will share more health and wellness news in the next edition. |
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COVID-19 RESOURCES
Students, faculty, and staff on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses who are experiencing possible symptoms consistent with, or who have been potentially exposed to, COVID-19 should contact the University's COVID-19 hotline at 305-243-ONE-U, where UHealth physicians and providers are available to answer your questions and provide telemedicine services if needed.
Members of the Medical Campus should contact 305-243-8378.
For additional University of Miami COVID-19 information and resources, visit coronavirus.miami.edu.
If you are a student in distress or need counseling services, the Counseling Center provides mental health services through HIPAA-compliant teleconferencing platforms. Counselors are certified and available to help any time by calling 305-284-5511. Additional resources are also available by visiting counseling.studentaffairs.miami.edu.
If you are a faculty or staff members in need of support visit fsap.miami.edu. |
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