Dec. 22 - COVID boosters required, return-to-campus instructions
Section 1
Welcome to our last UCI Digest before the winter break. We will return Jan. 3. In the meantime, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday break.
CAMPUS UPDATES
COVID boosters required by Jan. 31
As shared in President Drake’s letter, University of California policy requires students, faculty and staff to keep their COVID-19 vaccination status up-to-date. This includes boosters for those who are eligible. To comply with this policy, UCI is requiring boosters for all eligible individuals – students and employees – by Jan. 31, 2022. Those who are eligible and not boosted by this date will be considered non-compliant with the university’s vaccination policy. Those who are not yet eligible to be boosted by Jan. 31 will have two weeks after their eligibility to comply. As announced at last Thursday’s Health Affairs Town Hall and mentioned in the Chancellor’s message, students and employees are encouraged to upload their record as soon as possible.
Another reason to get a booster: a chance at a $50 Amazon gift card
In addition to enjoying stronger protection against COVID-19, students and employees who receive booster shots and upload their verification record by Friday, Jan. 7, will be entered into a drawing to win one of 100 $50 Amazon gift cards. (Those who have already uploaded their booster record, or who were boosted through Student Health or Occupational Health, are automatically eligible for the drawing.)
Information for staff returning to campus after winter break
As a follow-up to Chancellor Gillman’s Tuesday Zotmail regarding winter instruction, Ramona Agrela, vice chancellor and chief human resources officer, confirms that the campus will resume normal operations on Monday, Jan. 3. While instruction will be remote for the first two weeks of winter quarter, the campus will remain fully operational. This means that staff will return to their normal work schedule on Jan. 3 unless modified by the appropriate dean, vice chancellor or unit head. You can help UCI return to our current standards of operation as quickly as possible.
Message for students on steps to take when winter instruction begins on Jan. 3
Willie L. Banks Jr., vice chancellor, Student Affairs, is sharing additional details regarding plans for returning to the campus in Winter 2022. These plans, which are subject to change depending on the public health status of the campus community and county, involve remote learning from Jan. 3-14, COVID testing, booster shots, campus services, operations and more.
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
Assistant clinical professor provides context for the omicron variant
During a Dec. 17 community information session co-hosted by the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences and the CHOC Pharmacy Department, Keri Hurley Kim, assistant clinical professor of pharmaceutical sciences, discussed the potential severity of omicron and the effectiveness of vaccines.
UCI experts address mental health challenges in Hispanic communities
In partnership with the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Alberto Sandoval, director of community & government relations, introduced a panel of experts that included moderator Dr. Michael J. Stamos, dean of the School of Medicine, and panelists Dr. José Mayorga, assistant clinical professor, family medicine, and Dr. Charles Vega, clinical professor, family medicine, associate dean, School of Medicine, and director, Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
Rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations concerns state health experts
For every 100,000 residents, the San Francisco Bay Area has five people hospitalized with COVID-19, while Orange County’s rate is six and L.A. County’s is seven. Some state officials and health experts are concerned when the rate is five or greater.
How effective are boosters against omicron?
Antibody levels were 25 times higher after Pfizer’s extra shot and 37 times higher after Moderna’s. But even with a booster, protection against an omicron infection appeared about 20% less than protection against the delta variant.
FDA authorizes Pfizer pill to treat COVID in patients as young as 12
The Food and Drug Administration today authorized Paxlovid, a pill developed and made by Pfizer, as a treatment for COVID-19, a significant step in the battle against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The drug was authorized for use in people as young as 12 so long as they weigh at least 88 pounds.
Long COVID patients increasingly reporting vibrations and tremors
Estimated to be 10% to 30% of people who have had the coronavirus, long COVID patients experience a range of symptoms including fatigue, cognitive problems, shortness of breath and sensory issues, such as numbness and tingling. Internal buzzing sensations and external shaking, which have historically been less common, are gaining more attention among advocates and doctors.
EVENTS
Winter 2022 instruction begins
Monday, Jan. 3, all day (sponsored by Office of the Chancellor)
Winter Anteater Involvement Fair: Anteaters Way Home
Tuesday, Jan. 4, 11 a.m. (sponsored by Office of Campus Organizations & Volunteer Programs)
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
Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
Take a slice out of civic health this holiday season
The Hill, Dec. 21
Author: Bernadette Boden-Albala, director and founding dean, Program in Public Health
Has COVID destroyed our attention spans?
USA Today, Dec. 22
Cited: Keiland Cooper, graduate student in neurobiology and behavior
COVID booster jab aftercare: Can you drink alcohol and exercise after vaccine?
The Mirror, Dec. 17
Cited: Ilhem Messaoudi, professor of molecular biology and biochemistry and director of the Center for Virus Research
#UCICONNECTED
Little birdie hopes that you are happy.
Alltruism (“all true”) is a project supported by the Barnes & Noble Scholarship that aims to create connections through community, compassion and the creative arts. The initiative was part of The Alltruism Project, and more letters can be found on Instagram.
#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.