UC Merced is receiving limited doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine from UC Health and will begin offering vaccination to faculty and staff in accordance with state and county protocols.
Quick Facts
Who is the UC Merced COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic serving?
- UC Merced staff, faculty, and students only at this time
- All staff and faculty are asked to fill out this form as soon as possible, which will help us to gauge our community’s interest in receiving a vaccine on campus. This form will not establish eligibility or set appointments. It is simply to help us in planning for the facilities, personnel, and amount of vaccine we may need in the future. Once we have established this demand, we will open a mechanism for scheduling appointments in line with the state phased system.
Current Status
- The allocation of Phase 1b Tier One COVID-19 vaccine doses will use the following UC Health prioritization, in alignment with state eligibility groups:
- Open: UC Group 1- Employees age 65+
- Open: UC Group 2- Employees working on-site in the following four areas:
- Food service
- Child care
- Emergency Services
- Agriculture
- Pending: UC Group 3- Designated Employees working on-site
- With vaccine supply limited and expectations that the state will move to an age based prioritization approach, the initial invite to employees who meet the criteria previously listed will prioritize elder employees first.
Process
- Those in UC Groups with "Open" status will be contacted by the University to schedule an appointment. Please complete the form above to indicate your interest.
- The University of California does not require employees to be vaccinated, but highly recommends this step. Vaccination may have implications on whether we are required to continue wearing PPE in the future. For more information on what is expected with COVID Vaccination requirements, please review the interim University of California policy.
Location
- The vaccination clinic will be operated out of Sentinel Rock.
- On occasion, individuals will be receiving their vaccination at Student Health Services located in the Health and Athletics Center.
- The invitation will clearly identify the location of your vaccination appointment, with directions provided.
Price
- There will be no cost for the vaccine.
FAQs
If I fall into one of the three UC groups above, how will I know when I can get my vaccination?
- When your group is in "Open" status, and based on the vaccine doses available and prioritization scheme, you will receive an invitation notice via your UCM email account. The email will include instructions on your eligibility and on how you should schedule your appointments.
- Invitation emails will be coming from "University Announcements". If you have unsubscribed from UC Merced newsletters, announcements, or the like, you may not receive the invitation on the first attempt, but we will follow up using direct emails. If you would like to re-subcribe to the UC Merced email lists, please contact communications@ucmerced.edu.
What if I fall outside of the three UC groups listed above?
- We advise that individuals get the vaccine where they can.
- It is very difficult to project the timing of additional alotment to UC Merced based on overall federal and state distribution. Be sure to read any notices that you receive from your health care provider in the event that you might be eligible through off-campus health care sooner than our campus vaccine program.
How will I make an appointment to get a vaccine on campus?
- When you are eligible to make an appointment on campus, you will be notified via your UCM email account and will receive detailed instructions on how to make your appointment.
What can I do if I am not yet eligible to get a vaccine through campus?
- The continued roll-out of the vaccine brings hope on the horizon. We recognize, however, that the fact there are fewer vaccine doses than demand across the country and in our own community adds angst to the members of our Bobcat community as you navigate the pandemic and health concerns for yourselves and your loved ones. We continue to advocate as a campus and as a university system to get additional doses, and we are hopeful that we will see an increase in dose distribution. In the meantime, we encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible through your healthcare provider or other means, if that opportunity arises before you can get a vaccine through the campus. We advise you to get it where you can.
What other steps should I be taking while waiting for the vaccine to roll out?
- As we work to implement the vaccine program and our allocation of doses increases, we must all continue to Do Our Part: wear a face covering, abide by physical distancing guidelines, avoid large gatherings, do not come to campus if you are feeling ill, and regularly wash your hands. In addition, please continue to participate in the asymptomatic testing program as required. These actions will be necessary for the foreseeable future.
After I receive my COVID-19 vaccination, am I still required to follow the public health mitigation measures?
- At this time, yes. All individuals are to continue following our mitigation measures: wear a face covering, abide by physical distancing guidelines, avoid large gatherings, do not come to campus if you are feeling ill, regularly wash your hands, and participate in the asymptomatic testing program as required.
How do I learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine?
- Watch the video below! (Available in English and Spanish)
