Update on JHU vaccination eligibility and distribution
February 2, 2021
Dear Johns Hopkins Community,
We are writing to follow up on our recent message regarding vaccine eligibility and access for members of the Johns Hopkins University community.
This message includes confirmation of the categories of JHU affiliates who are eligible for the vaccine in Phase 1B and Phase 1C of the state’s program and a status update on vaccination of JHU affiliates by Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM).
Vaccine eligibility
Based on guidance received from the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia, we have confirmed that the following categories of JHU affiliates who are working in person (i.e., on campus) are now eligible to receive the vaccine as part of Phase 1B and Phase 1C:
- Custodial services
- Dining staff
- Facilities maintenance
- Transportation
- Student health
- Campus safety and security
- Student-facing student affairs staff
- Day care workers
- Instructors and staff providing in-person learning (e.g., faculty, teaching assistants, teaching fellows)
Vaccine access and availability
Unfortunately, despite this eligibility, the vaccine is still in extremely short supply.
Nonetheless, the state of Maryland has directed universities and other employers to develop partnerships with clinical providers to administer the vaccine to their eligible affiliates. In our case, JHU is partnered with JHM.
This means that all eligible JHU affiliates in the above categories (i.e., all those who are eligible by virtue of their work at JHU) will be entered into JHM’s vaccination pool, along with other eligible patients and groups (e.g., those over 65).
In addition, based on guidance from the JHM Scarce Resources Committee, JHM will prioritize within the JHU pool those affiliates who are required to be on campus, have substantial contact with students, and may face additional barriers and inequities in accessing the vaccine.
If you are among those who are eligible for the vaccine in Phase 1B and Phase 1C through your role at JHU, you should receive an initial email notification in the next one to two weeks. You also should activate your MyChart account if you have not already done so. Eligible persons are selected at random to receive the vaccine each week, and if you are selected, you will receive from MyChart an invitation to schedule an appointment.
Importantly, given the enormous demand and the scarcity of the vaccine in the region and at JHM, vaccination of JHU affiliates through JHM will take quite some time. We therefore continue to encourage all eligible affiliates to seek out the vaccine through all other avenues as well. You are not required to be vaccinated by JHM, and you are allowed to register for the vaccine from multiple providers. Information on vaccination sites and links to register are available here.
Caring for each other
We know that many in our community would like to be vaccinated by JHM as soon as possible—the wait is long and the differences in vaccine administration across the region and the nation are confusing. We share your frustration and appreciate your patience, and we are committed to doing everything we can to support you and the broader community.
In the meantime, we continue to believe that the most important things you can do for yourself and others are to remain diligent in masking and social distancing and to help one another learn and stay informed about the vaccine.
Stay safe and be well,
Sunil Kumar
Provost
Mary Miller
Interim SVP for Finance and Administration
