UB Vaccination Updates and Protocols

Michael E. Cain, MD, UB’s vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, is a member of the Western New York Vaccine Hub leadership team, which is headed by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and includes Catholic Health President and CEO Mark A. Sullivan and ECMC President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr. 

The New York State Department of Health is providing regular updates regarding who is eligible for vaccination. Individuals in high-risk priority population groups should receive the vaccine first, in accordance with guidelines developed by the Department of Health. As additional allocations are made to New York State, additional groups will be eligible for vaccine. Please see https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ for eligibility requirements.

Currently, students and faculty in health-related disciplines who have contact with patients are getting vaccinated. These vaccinations are provided by and have taken place at Erie County Department of Health sites and local hospitals including Buffalo General Medical Center, the VA Western New York Health Care System, Millard Fillmore Suburban and Erie County Medical Center.

In addition, faculty engaged in in-person instruction have now been approved for the vaccine.

The NYS Department of Health is developing and communicating plans to vaccinate other essential workers and individuals whose health is considered to be most at risk. For updates, please see information provided by the NYS Department of Health.

UB is pleased to play a vital role in the fight against COVID-19 by hosting a designated state vaccination site for the Western New York community in Harriman Hall on the university’s South Campus.

Additional information about the South Campus vaccination site, including hours of operation, will be provided at a later date. Vaccinations will be provided to eligible Western New York community members by appointment only, in accordance with NYS Department of Health guidelines on vaccine eligibility.

Members of the UB community should expect to be vaccinated according to the prioritization established by the NYS Department of Health. As the vaccine supply increases, the state will expand the eligibility for the vaccine. At this point, the university is not expected to be a direct source for vaccines for UB faculty, staff and students, outside of those who are otherwise eligible, as noted above.

As NYS receives more vaccine supply in the coming weeks, access is expected to expand according to the priority approach required by New York State. The Department of Health will provide regular updates on vaccine eligibility and availability.

To check your eligibility and to make an appointment at a vaccination site, visit https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/.

Yes, for several reasons:

• It is not yet known if the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can prevent asymptomatic infection and subsequent transmission of the virus.
• The vaccine is not 100% effective.
• Public health measures will be important as long as virus is circulating in the community. There is currently widespread community transmission.
• Vaccines are most effective in reducing virus when combined with public health measures until herd immunity is achieved.
• No one knows you have been vaccinated when you appear in public, and the site of someone failing to wear a mask may cause anxiety for other individuals. Until there is widespread immunity to infection, masks and social distancing will be necessary. Optimal hand hygiene is always a good idea.