University will support COVID-19 vaccine efforts by hosting clinics for campus community
At the request of the New Jersey Department of Health, Princeton University will be one of numerous distribution points for the COVID-19 vaccine once available throughout the state. The University is working in partnership with the state of New Jersey and municipality of Princeton to support vaccination efforts.
Princeton plans to host on-campus clinics to administer vaccines to University undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff, retirees and affiliates. The clinics will also administer vaccines to household members of graduate students, faculty, staff, retirees and affiliates.
A survey will be emailed today to members of the University community to gauge interest in the vaccine. The survey is voluntary and will be used for planning purposes only. More information is available on the COVID-19 Resources website.
The University must follow the direction of the state health department and does not yet know when it will receive vaccine. New Jersey is taking a phased approach to rolling out the vaccine. The current Phase 1a is for health-care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. Princeton is currently working with local health officials to ensure that campus health-care workers have access to the vaccine as part of this initial phase.
Princeton will be supporting the state’s vaccination efforts by distributing vaccines to students, faculty and staff in order to take pressure off other vaccine distribution efforts across New Jersey.
“We are working in partnership with state and local health officials to distribute vaccines to members of the University community once we are able to do so,” said University Health Services Executive Director John Kolligian. “By hosting on-campus clinics for our community, we may help relieve some of the burden on other medical facilities and healthcare providers in the state. While the vaccine rollout in New Jersey is an excellent development, patience and flexibility will be important as we enter this new phase of the pandemic; timelines may change and distribution plans may need adjustments.”
Municipality of Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser added: “The Princeton Health Department and Princeton University have worked closely together through each phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will continue to work together in order to effectively support vaccination efforts. Currently, we are coordinating vaccination response as vaccines are being distributed throughout the state of New Jersey.”
The University clinics will be among several distribution sites for the COVID-19 vaccines in New Jersey. Members of the University community and their households are encouraged to make plans to get vaccinated at the earliest possible time and site that is most convenient for them. Individuals may choose to receive the first dose on campus and the second at another clinic, or vice versa.
Health and safety guidelines, such as social distancing and mask wearing, continue to remain in effect inside University buildings and on campus. More information on the health and safety policies for living and working on campus are available on the COVID-19 Resources website.
