On Friday, Boston University plans to begin giving COVID-19 vaccinations to its community using a small shipment of 500 vaccines-made by Moderna-that were delivered to the University this week. An allotment of 400 doses has been provided by Boston Medical Center (BMC), BU's teaching hospital, and an additional 100 doses were sent to BU from the state of Massachusetts. BU will follow the state's guidelines for determining who is eligible to receive a vaccination in order of priority, outlined by the state's three-phase vaccination plan. The first group to be vaccinated at BU will include healthcare workers and staff in COVID-facing job functions that fit into Phase 1A of the vaccine rollout, as defined by the state.
When more doses arrive, BU will be ready. At the end of last year, BU President Robert A. Brown convened a Vaccine Preparedness Group to iron out details for how the vaccines will be received, refrigerated in cold storage units, and administered fairly and equitably to members of BU's community.
On Tuesday, The Brink spoke with Judy Platt, director of BU Student Health Services and cochair of the Vaccine Preparedness Group, and with Ann Zaia, director of BU's Occupational Health Center. Both have played critical roles in leading the teams that manage BU's campus-wide COVID-19 surveillance program and in caring for BU students, faculty, and staff who have tested positive for the virus. Now, with members of BU's community preparing to roll up their sleeves for long-awaited vaccines, Platt and Zaia's teams will be at the forefront of administering the shots.
Faculty and staff who have questions about the vaccination program may email [email protected], or call 617-358-4900 weekdays from 9am to 5pm. Students who have questions about the vaccination program may email [email protected]. Faculty, students, or staff who have medical questions related to the vaccine or post-vaccination side effects should call Healthway at 617-353-0550 from 7 am to 6 pm, 7 days a week, and press 2 to speak with a nurse.
