{"id":73330,"date":"2022-04-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-07T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2022\/04\/07\/covid-19-boosters-focus-of-aprils-campus-forum\/"},"modified":"2025-02-26T14:30:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T20:30:28","slug":"covid-19-boosters-focus-of-aprils-campus-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2022\/04\/07\/covid-19-boosters-focus-of-aprils-campus-forum\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 boosters focus of April’s campus forum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, opened this month\u2019s town hall meeting by thanking UNMC faculty, students and staff for their hard work and commitment to UNMC\u2019s mission of leading the world. He was joined online by Jane Meza, PhD, interim executive director for health security for UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and more than 230 faculty, staff and students.<\/p>\n

Tuesday\u2019s discussion focused on COVID-19 updates and referenced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration\u2019s decision last week to authorize a second booster (fourth dose) of mRNA vaccines (Prizer or Moderna) for people 50 years and older.<\/p>\n

During the forum, Dr. Gold said he anticipates getting his fourth dose within the next month or so, hopefully prior to commencement and other spring activities.<\/p>\n

Dr. Gold also encouraged eligible individuals \u2014\u00a0those at high risk and\/or who had a booster dose more than four months previously \u2014\u00a0to talk with their local health care professional about getting a second booster and, if so, when. This is particularly important, he said, as new vaccines may receive FDA EUA certification.<\/p>\n

Per UNMC policy, COVID-19 vaccines are required for faculty, staff and students. Although boosters are not required, faculty, staff and students are expected to receive a booster\u00a0when eligible, because they have been shown to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death.<\/p>\n

Campus officials continue to monitor the spread of BA.2, a subvariant of omicron, that is sweeping across Europe and Asia\u00a0and has become the more dominant strain in the U.S.<\/p>\n

Read this UNMC Today article on the COVID-19 vaccine booster update<\/a>, as well as\u00a0Nebraska Medicine\u2019s Q&A on COVID-19 vaccine boosters\u00a0and how to schedule a fourth dose with Nebraska Medicine.<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

View the CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 vaccine boosters<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

Dr. Meza outlined UNMC\u2019s current COVID-19 safety guidance<\/a> regarding masking, gatherings and visitors, which was updated March 21 as a result of lower case counts across Nebraska communities. Testing remains available<\/a> on campus, she said, and unvaccinated employees and students with exemptions must continue to test weekly.<\/p>\n

Dr. Gold also highlighted the “spectacular” economic impact of UNMC, its primary clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, and affiliates. According to a 2021 Tripp Umbach study, the med center boasts a $6.4 billion annual impact on the state of Nebraska, more than a 30% increase over the past three years.<\/p>\n

In other news, Dr. Gold:<\/p>\n