UMD Prepares for Safe, Efficient Distribution of COVID Vaccines

Dr. Sacared Bodison, interim director of the University Health Center, and Dr. Spyridon Marinopolous, incoming director, sent the following email to the campus community today:

We are writing to update you regarding the status of our COVID-19 vaccine efforts, in this follow-up to our letter sent in December. As you may know, the COVID-19 vaccine is a critical tool for managing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Gov. Larry Hogan hosted a press conference on the state of Maryland's vaccination efforts earlier this week.

As of today, we have not received any doses of the vaccine on campus, nor a timeline for distribution from the Maryland Department of Health. Please know that the University Health Center and the Task Force on Vaccine Distribution are preparing for a safe and efficient vaccination plan for the UMD community as soon as we have the vaccine on hand. Once the vaccine is available to our campus, we will follow the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the state for equitable vaccine distribution. Gov. Hogan has outlined a phased approach for vaccine dissemination to the state. You will receive communication about priority criteria for vaccination administration as soon as it is available.

In the meantime, the CDC has developed eight important things to know about the COVID-19 vaccine. Like the CDC, the Maryland Department of Health and medical providers across the country, we strongly believe that the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from getting the disease, in addition to following preventive measures.

Please stay safe and remember the 4 Maryland healthy behaviors. The latest research continues to underscore the importance of wearing masks and physical distancing.

Sincerely,

Sacared Bodison, MD
Interim Director, University Health Center

Spyridon Marinopoulos, MD
Incoming Director, University Health Center