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UCI Health Affairs Town Hall - August 13, 2021

Section 1

UCI Health Affairs Town Hall on COVID-19 Updates

 
Featured panelists:
Dr. Susan Huang, Director of Epidemiology and Infection Prevention, UCI Health
Ramona Agrela, Associate Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Executive
David Souleles, Director, COVID-19 Response Team
 
Moderated by:
Dr. Michael J. Stamos, Dean of UCI School of Medicine

Top takeaways from today’s town hall

If you missed today’s Health Affairs Town Hall on COVID-19, here are a few nuggets:

  • Cases across America and California continue to increase.

  • COVID-19 vaccines remain 93-97% protective against severe disease from all variants. This includes hospitalization and death.

  • How do we stop variants? Vaccinate.

  • Full FDA approval is expected for Pfizer and Moderna at the end of this month.

  • The Pfizer vaccine could receive emergency use authorization for children 5-11 years old by the FDA this winter, and for 2-5 year olds a few months after that. For children 6 months to 2 years old, the expected timeframe is early 2022.

  • Boosters (a 3-dose series) are expected to receive approval this fall for Pfizer and Moderna.

  • UCI Health has updated their FAQs. Answers are in both English and Spanish.

  • All UC employees and students are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccination (or apply for an exemption, exception or deferral). At UCI, the deadline for compliance is Sept. 6.

  • Non-compliance with the UC Vaccine Policy will result in escalating discipline.

  • Everyone – students and employees – is reminded that the daily symptom check is still required.

  • Students, staff and faculty not fully vaccinated need to participate in weekly asymptomatic testing and masking.

  • Drop-in asymptomatic testing for all students, staff, and faculty will be available on campus by the fall quarter.

  • The Future of Work website has information and resources for faculty and staff returning to work on campus either full time or in a hybrid model.