Aug. 12 - Vaccine hesitancy and vaccine safety, town hall tomorrow
Section 1
Newton’s rainbow appears in the Engineering Hall. Photo by Ian Parker
Each day, a UCI expert will answer one of your questions about COVID-19, vaccinations, variants or the future of work. Submit questions via email.
Today’s question is fielded by Suellen Hopfer, assistant professor of public health and expert on vaccine hesitancy:
Why are people still hesitating to get the vaccine, and how can I convince my unvaccinated friends and family members to get the vaccine?
For those not vaccinated it may be for several reasons. In research I’ve worked on, we’ve learned from discussions with parents about vaccinating their kids that there is high complacency about the risk of COVID-19 and low confidence in the vaccine. Messaging needs to build confidence in the effectiveness of the vaccine, and remind people that choosing not to vaccinate is riskier than vaccinating. We also need to make it as easy as possible for people of all backgrounds to get the vaccine, by, for instance, allowing them to take a couple days off work to vaccinate and rest without fear of losing their jobs. The key message is that we are all in this together and the more people who vaccinate and mask up inside for now, the quicker we can all get out of this horrific pandemic. It is a collective risk and we are dependent on each other.
Listen to this episode of the UCI Podcast featuring Professor Hopfer: UCI Podcast: Why are people hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
CAMPUS UPDATES
Take a break, take the Gallup staff survey
With the approval of your manager, you can take up to 15 minutes from your regular work on Friday, August 13 to complete the staff survey that you received from Gallup. The results will be used to improve programs that directly benefit and affect our staff and workplace. You should have received an invitation via email, but if you can’t find it, here’s the link. (Your survey code is your UCINetID.)
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
Get the Facts: UCI’s Dr. Michael Stamos on Why You Should Get Vaccinated
In this short video, Dr. Michael J. Stamos, dean of the UCI School of Medicine, encourages viewers to get vaccinated because that’s how life can finally return to normal. Find answers to your vaccine questions here.
How UCI’s Digital Learning Institute supported instructors and students as they pivoted to remote learning
Early in the pandemic, faculty were seeking tools to do something they hadn’t done before: teach classes fully online. So when the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI) launched a remote course to help faculty learn those skills, the response was overwhelming. Twenty faculty were expected to sign up, but 100 submitted their applications in the first week.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
California’s new vaccine requirement for schools: What you need to know
On Wednesday, California became the second state in the nation, following Hawaii, to impose a vaccination mandate for school staff. The mandate comes as schools across the state are reopening amid worries about the highly contagious delta variant, the Los Angeles Times breaks down the new rules.
O.C. hospital, acute care facility visitors must show vaccine card, negative COVID-19 test
Locals seeking to visit someone in a hospital, nursing home or care facility in Orange County must now provide proof of full vaccination or show a recent negative COVID-19 test, according to a state mandate that took effect Wednesday, the Daily Pilot reports.
EVENTS
UCI Health Affairs Town Hall on COVID-19 Updates
Tomorrow at noon
You can also view the livestream.
UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge Virtual Challenge Day
Saturday
Run, walk or ride wherever you are, and make sure to track your activity.
LA Rams vs. LA Chargers
Saturday at 7 p.m.
For a limited time only, UCI affiliates will receive access to discounted tickets starting at $50.
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Debate grows over mask mandates in schools as Delta variant poses risk to children
CBS News, Aug. 11
Cited: Dr. Dan Cooper, professor of pediatrics and associate vice chancellor for clinical and translational science
For Many, Hydrogen Is the Fuel of the Future. New Research Raises Doubts
The New York Times, Aug. 12
Cited: Jack Brouwer, director of the National Fuel Cell Research Center and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering
Can Biden Cancel Student Debt? It Depends Who You Ask
Inside Higher Ed, Aug. 11
Cited: Dalié Jiménez, director of the Student Loan Law Initiative and professor of law
COVID-19 NOTIFICATION AND RESOURCES
Remember to upload your vaccine record
Vaccination is a critical step toward our campus's fall return. Help our community by uploading your vaccine record.
Potential workplace exposure
UCI provides this notification of a potential workplace COVID-19 exposure. Employees and subcontractors who were in these locations on the dates listed may have been exposed to the coronavirus. You may be entitled to various benefits under applicable federal and state laws and University-specific policies and agreements. The full notification is available on the UCI Forward site. If you have been identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 case, the UCI Contact Tracing Program will contact you and provide additional direction.
UCI Forward - information on campus status and operational updates
UCI Health COVID-19 Updates - important information related to UCI Health