Boosting COVID-19 immunity
Dear students, colleagues and friends,
As the weather begins to turn colder, our community members will spend more time indoors. And while COVID-19 cases within our campus community remain relatively low, we continue to focus on mitigating the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
The measures we have implemented to keep our community safe — testing or vaccination and masking — have been overwhelmingly effective. To build on the success of these measures, CMU will begin offering booster shots on campus next week to eligible individuals, in partnership with the Central Michigan District Health Department.
I'm pleased to say that CMU faculty, staff and student employees are currently eligible for a COVID-19 booster as qualified education employees.
Boosters add extra protection
The science is clear: COVID-19 vaccines work incredibly well and prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death. Data shows that over time, however, efficacy of the vaccines has been waning. While still uncommon, some populations see reduced protection against mild and moderate disease. Boosters are proven to increase the efficacy of the vaccines significantly.
Booster eligibility and availability
Along with employees, other individuals within our campus community are eligible now to receive booster shots. Here are eligibility highlights based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- If you are age 18+ and received the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least two months ago, you should get a booster shot.
- If you received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you are eligible for a booster at least six months after your second shot if you are 65 years or older or are age 18+ and live in long-term care settings, have underlying medical conditions and/or work or live in high-risk settings.
Here's where you can get your booster shot:
- Clinics will be held in Finch Fieldhouse from 9 a.m.Noon and 1-3 p.m. on November 12, 16 and 19.
- University Health Services Clinic offers COVID-19 vaccines in Foust Hall on Wednesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Call 989-774-6599 to make your appointment.
- Booster shots are also available now Monday-Friday through the Central Michigan District Health Department and at most area pharmacies.
Find more information about booster shot availability on our COVID-19 vaccine website.
In addition, if you haven't yet received your first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and wish to do so, all of the options above are available to you.
Supporting and keeping each other safe
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and we also enter flu season, I want to remind everyone to be patient with and supportive of one another as people continue to be quarantined for close contact or because they are symptomatic.
I commend the Academic Senate for encouraging support for students who are quarantined by passing a resolution to assist them in their academic pursuits. In addition, I appreciate supervisors for supporting remote work, where appropriate, to ensure employees can continue their vital work while keeping our campus community safe.
Remember, if you're not fully vaccinated and are identified as a close contact, you must quarantine for 14 days. For those who are fully vaccinated and are identified as a close contact, you're not required to quarantine but should be tested three to five days after exposure and wear a mask in all indoor settings for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative.
I'll wrap up this week with a reminder to please celebrate safely this Halloween weekend. Watch out for yourselves and each other. Protecting others is part of who we are as a community — it is how we show that we care.
Be well,
Bob Davies, Ph.D.
President
Central Michigan University
Blog: COVID-19 communications posted
| Last Modified:
| Author: by Bob Davies, Ph.D.