Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi COVID-19 vaccination

Latest Updates

Jan. 13, 2021: MSDH released a statement that the recent increase in online vaccination appointments has scheduled all of Mississippi’s current vaccine supply. Appointments are expected to resume in mid-February when Mississippi receives a new vaccine shipment.

Jan. 12, 2021: Gov. Tate Reeves and the MS State Department of Health announced that the state is now giving COVID-19 immunizations for the following populations:

  • All Healthcare Workers and EMTs / paramedics
  • NEW — Persons 65 years of age or older
  • NEW — Persons 18 – 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions

Individuals from these groups are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment through one of the following:

Jan. 8, 2021: The MSDH free drive-through vaccination sites will be expanding, and now those 75 and over can receive COVID-19 vaccinations at one of many local clinics or physicians around the state.

Jan. 5, 2021: The MS State Department of Health issued a Health Alert stating that beginning January 6, 2021, persons 75 years of age and older will be able to schedule appointments at MSDH COVID-19 vaccination clinics throughout the state.

Jan. 4, 2021: Governor Tate Reeves and Dr. Thomas Dobbs, along with other state officials, held a press conference to provide information on the state’s continued health and economic response to COVID-19 including an update on the vaccine.

Jan. 2021: Mississippi is following a phased approach to prioritizing COVID-19 vaccinations. Each phase balances the protection of those most at risk from COVID-19 with the protection of those who maintain essential functions of the community such as healthcare, education, law enforcement, food supply and transportation.

Overview

According to the CDC: “on December 11, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization for use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in people aged 16 years and older for the prevention of COVID-19. Because the supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the United States will be limited at first, CDC recommends that initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccine be allocated to healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents.” On December 18, 2020, the FDA also issued an emergency use authorization for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use in people aged 18 years and older.

The university has assembled a Vaccine Distribution and Administration Task Force, which will develop a strategy to provide ample opportunities for faculty, staff, and students of the university to be immunized using the supply of vaccines provided by the Mississippi Department of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current status of vaccine rollout in Mississippi?

Currently, the Mississippi State Department of Health vaccine rollout is in Phase 1a, which includes all healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents.

  • Health departments across the state are allowing healthcare providers to sign up for drive-thru vaccinations.
  • They are also vaccinating all long-term care facility residents with the help of pharmacies.
  • Beginning January 6, 2021, persons 75 years of age and older will be able to schedule appointments at MSDH COVID-19 vaccination clinics throughout the state.
  • Dr. Thomas Dobbs, the state health officer, announced on Jan. 4, 2021, that they are working to allow Phase 1b to have access to the drive-thru sites in the coming weeks, which according to the phased rollout, University of Mississippi faculty and staff would qualify for.

Will the University of Mississippi serve as a vaccination site?

The university has signed up as a vaccination site, and as soon as we are given the greenlight to start receiving the vaccine, we will begin administering to our population via Operation Immunization like we do for flu each year. A Vaccine Distribution and Administration Task Force has been formed to handle the logistics.

How will the campus be notified of vaccine updates and availability?

Any updates or new information will be pushed out through normal UM communications, and you can also check out this page dedicated to our vaccine rollout plan. As with everything during the pandemic, information is constantly and rapidly changing, and we are doing our best to adapt and keep our community informed.

Resources

MS State Department of Health Resources

UM Medical Center Resources

CDC Resources