Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

University of Mississippi

Wednesday, October 06, 2021 COVID-19 Updates

Where to Get COVID-19 Booster Vaccine
Current Eligibility for Booster Dose of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), a single booster dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for certain groups who already received two doses of Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago.
  • Long-term care facility residents
  • Adults aged 65 years and older
  • Adults aged 18 and older with certain underlying medical conditions
  • Adults aged 18 and older in certain occupations that increase their risk of exposure:
    • First responders (healthcare workers, firefighters, police, congregate care staff)
    • Education staff (teachers, support staff, daycare workers)
    • Food and agriculture workers
    • Manufacturing workers
    • Corrections workers
    • U.S. Postal Service workers
    • Public transit workers Grocery store workers
Underlying Medical Conditions to Consider for a Booster Dose of Pfizer
Underlying medical conditions to consider for a booster dose of Pfizer (determined by medical provider):
  • Chronic kidney disease,
  • Chronic lung diseases (COPD, asthma, etc),
  • Dementia or other neurological conditions,
  • Diabetes (type 1 or 2),
  • Down syndrome,
  • Heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies),
  • Hypertension,
  • Liver Disease,
  • Overweight (defined as a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2 but < 30 kg/m2), obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2 but < 40 kg/m2), or severe obesity (BMI of ≥40 kg/m2),
  • Pregnancy,
  • Sickle cell disease or thalassemia,
  • Smoking (current or former),
  • Stroke,
  • Substance abuse disorders, and
  • Other medical conditions determined by the medical provider (see CDC reference Underlying Medical Conditions for Clinicians (cdc.gov)
UM COVID-19 Testing / University-Oxford Depot Site Results
See this page for results from COVID-19 testing (PCR COVID-19 test) for students, faculty, and staff at University-Oxford Depot where symptomatic and asymptomatic testing is offered.
On-Campus Options for COVID-19 Testing
FREE COVID-19 testing is offered for symptomatic or asymptomatic students, faculty, and staff at the University-Oxford Depot on campus Monday-Friday, 3-7 p.m. and this Sunday, 12 noon-4 p.m. See the full schedule and more details here. To schedule your test:
  • Text “2020” to 833-991-3009 OR click on this link: http://86borders.com/l/68415e8f
  • Complete the Testing Intake Form
  • You will receive a confirmation # to present at the testing site
  • Show up (with your University-affiliated ID) any day, any time during testing hours that week. 
The University Health Center offers COVID testing on campus. Call Student Health at (662) 915-7274 or Employee Health at (662) 915-6550 to schedule a test. 
Oxford/Lafayette County Options for COVID-19 Testing
MSDH offers FREE testing at the Oxford Conference Center Monday through Friday. More info and available appointments are here. Or, you can see this list of clinics around town that offer COVID testing.
COVID-19 Vaccine on Campus
Upcoming vaccine clinics administering the FREE FDA-approved Pfizer vaccine for those aged 12 and up will be held at Johnson Commons. All clinics will offer the first or second Pfizer dose. No appointment needed – simply stop by between 1-3 p.m. on any of the following dates:
  • Oct. 12, (free Apple AirTag for those getting a vaccine dose on this day, while supplies last)
  • Oct. 19 and 26 
  • Nov. 2, 9, and 30
Flu Shots on Campus
  • Oct. 12, 1–4 p.m., Galtney-Lott Plaza
  • Oct. 14, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., The Pavilion
The cost is $40 and can be billed to most insurance plans as university students, faculty, and staff should bring their Ole Miss ID and prescription insurance card. Costs not covered by insurance can be charged to Bursar accounts.
Featured FAQ: What should people who received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) vaccine do about a booster vaccine?
According to the CDC, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and CDC’s recommendations are bound by what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization allows. At this time, the Pfizer-BioNTech booster authorization only applies to people whose primary series was Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. People in the recommended groups who got the Moderna or J&J/Janssen vaccine will likely need a booster shot. More data on the effectiveness and safety of Moderna and J&J/Janssen booster shots are expected soon. With those data in hand, CDC will keep the public informed with a timely plan for Moderna and J&J/Janssen booster shots.
News Stories and Resources
COVID-19 Data
  • MSDH reported the following information for COVID-19 cases in Mississippi as of Oct. 5:
    • 834 new cases, 19 new deaths and 63 long-term care facilities outbreaks.
  • Mississippi Vaccination Report as of Oct. 6:
    • 2,842,921 total doses administered; 1,508,925 people receiving at least one dose; and 1,328,703 people fully vaccinated.
    • Lafayette County: 56,680 Total Doses Administered; 26,701 People Fully Vaccinated, 49% of Total Population Fully Vaccinated.
  • UMMC COVID-19 Patient Status (as of 10/6)
  • COVID-19 Patients, Oxford/Lafayette County (as of 10/5)
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