Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi COVID-19 vaccination

How to get vaccinated in Oxford

On-campus vaccination appointments

The university will be administering second-dose Pfizer vaccines to those members of the campus community who received their first dose on campus. Those individuals will receive an email confirmation of their second-dose appointment day and time.

Please see UM’s vaccination appointment webpage for more appointment information and logistics.

Off-campus vaccination sites

Those who prefer a two-dose vaccine may use the resources below to find a first-dose appointment in Oxford. Students who want a two-dose vaccine and have not yet scheduled a first dose are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment ASAP using the options below so that they can receive their second dose before the semester ends:

Places to get vaccinated in Oxford:

NG Armory/Oxford Conference Center
102 Ed Perry Blvd
Drive-thru location, walk-ups not allowed
Schedule online at covidvaccine.umc.edu.

Kroger Pharmacy
2013 University Ave.
866-211-5320
Schedule online at kroger.com/covidvaccine.

Oxford Rx, LLC Pharmacy
821 N Lamar Blvd. (within walking distance of the Square)
662-380-5300
Schedule online at www.oxfordrx38655.com.

Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi Hospital/Clinic
1100 Belk Blvd.
Call 662-636-4353 to make an appointment.
baptistonline.org/covid-19/resources/covid-19-vaccine

Please email c19@olemiss.edu if you have questions about getting a vaccination appointment in Oxford. If you received your first dose at the on-campus vaccination site and need to make a change to your second dose appointment, please reply to the confirmation email you received when scheduling your first appointment. For more information about appointments on campus, see the vaccination appointment FAQ page.

Latest Updates

Apr. 15, 2021: In an abundance of caution and following guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the university suspended its administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on campus this week. All appointments involving the J&J vaccine scheduled for this week were canceled.

As of April 12, 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the United States. The CDC & FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine. Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare. If you have any specific concerns you would like to discuss, please call Student Health (662-915-7274) or Employee Health (662-915-6550), or your primary healthcare provider.

Mar. 8, 2021: The CDC issued interim public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people.

Feb. 26, 2021: Kroger grocery stores are now offering appointments for individuals to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Kroger’s website currently shows appointments at the Oxford Kroger (2013 University Avenue, 662-236-6811) as well as other stores in the state (Tupelo, Columbus, Starkville and Corinth). Visit the Kroger website for more information including eligibility and appointment availability.

Feb. 25, 2021: Faculty, staff and students are asked to complete the UM COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Survey as soon as possible to assess willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine and to determine who may have been vaccinated at other locations. It will take less than 2 minutes and responses are anonymous.

Feb. 23, 2021: MSDH shared a Health Alert that expanded COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility. Beginning March 1, 2021, all teachers/staff/employees in K-12, preschool or childcare settings, and all first responders (including law enforcement, public safety, fire services and emergency management officials) will be added to the groups eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in Mississippi.

Feb. 9, 2021: Beginning February 9, selected Walmart locations around the state will be receiving COVID-19 vaccine. Make a vaccination appointment online at https://www.walmart.com/cp/1228302. (Requires creation of free Walmart account)

Feb. 5, 2021: The UM Department of Human Resources provided the following guidance for employees receiving offsite vaccinations —

  • All employees are encouraged to receive vaccinations as determined by Mississippi Department of Health and their medical provider. When available, Employee Health and/or the School of Pharmacy notifies the campus of the timeframe(s) for having a vaccine administered. The university will provide either onsite access to the vaccines or a list of locations to assist employees in receiving vaccines on their own.
  • When the cost of the vaccine is not covered either by Employee Health or School of Pharmacy or if the vaccine is received off-campus at another location, vaccinations should be run through employees’ health insurance where applicable and otherwise be submitted for reimbursement.
  • All employees will be paid for time taken to receive vaccinations administered on campus. For offsite vaccinations, employees are to work with their managers to schedule an appropriate time that is least disruptive to the work day.  Up to two hours of administrative leave is available for non-exempt/hourly employees receiving the vaccine offsite when it cannot be scheduled before or after work or during a lunch break.

For more information, visit the HR website or email hr@olemiss.edu with any questions regarding this guidance.

Feb. 4, 2021: MSDH shared that second-dose COVID-19 vaccination appointments will now be made through instructions in your first-dose confirmation e-mail. If you have already been vaccinated, watch for an e-mail message with instructions on scheduling your second appointment. For assistance, call 877-978-6453.

Jan. 28, 2021: The Mississippi State Department of Health announced that second dose appointments can now be made for sites throughout the state immediately after receiving a first dose. There is no need to wait two weeks before scheduling. Schedule online at covidvaccine.umc.edu

Jan. 27, 2021: The Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) issued a legal bulletin providing guidance to insurance companies regarding the appropriate coverage for vaccines for COVID-19.

Jan. 15, 2021: MSDH released a statement that additional COVID-19 vaccine was being allocated to Mississippi the week of Jan. 25 to support ongoing vaccination appointments at drive-through sites and allow for a modest amount of doses to be shared with community partners.

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

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

Can someone be required to disclose their vaccination status?

Current guidance considers an individual’s vaccination status protected health information. As a result, individuals should not be asked about vaccination status. The university continues to encourage everyone on campus to follow protocols for the spaces in which they work or study to prevent the virus from spreading. If the protocols for a particular space are unclear, please email c19@olemiss.edu. University officials will continue to follow developments and guidance on vaccination status and disclosure.

What is the current status of vaccine rollout in Mississippi?

Currently, all Mississippians ages 16 and above are eligible to schedule appointments at MSDH COVID-19 vaccination clinics throughout the state.

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

COVID-19 Vaccine Mythbusters

UMMC news release: Black pastors, doctors strive to dispel COVID-19 vaccine doubts

UM news release: Task Force Preparing for Campuswide COVID-19 Vaccinations

Fox 13 Memphis story: Plans in place to vaccinate Ole Miss employees and students

How COVID-19 vaccines use mRNA, by Dr. Josh Sharp

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLoGSc4TnHc&w=560&h=315]

 

Wishing and Hoping and Waiting: Reflections on the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine, a blog by Dr. Jean Gispen, staff physician with Employee Health.

MS State Department of Health Resources

UM Medical Center Resources

CDC Resources