Getting a safe, effective, and tested COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself, keep your family and others who are important to you safe, and  move our campus and community toward a greater sense of normalcy. Over 75 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in the United States, with more than 100,000 of those doses given to people living here in Guilford County. We want to make sure you know when you are eligible to get the vaccine and how to get an appointment when you become eligible.  

We encourage you to read through this entire email, but of particular note:

• UNCG will be hosting a vaccine clinic on campus for individuals who are employed by colleges and universities in Guilford County. If you work on campus, check your email for a specific link to the signup process for the UNCG clinic. See the note below for other vaccine opportunities.
• Residence halls are considered part of Group 4 by the state of North Carolina. Group 4 members such as our students living in our residence halls are anticipated to be eligible for a vaccine beginning March 24. We will communicate directly with our residential students closer to that time with further instructions.  

What vaccine options are available? 

There are now three vaccines that have been approved for use to protect against COVID-19 in the United States: The Pfizer vaccine (2 doses given 21 days apart), the Moderna vaccine (2 doses given 28 days apart), and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (1 dose). All three vaccines have been determined to provide good protection against becoming ill from the virus. Federal, state, and local health officials all recommend that you get the version of the vaccine that is first available to you. In addition to protecting yourself and your loved ones, as more people get vaccinated, there is less opportunity for new variants of the virus to develop, and more hope that we can end the pandemic.  

When can I get vaccinated?

Because availability of the vaccines has been limited, the state of North Carolina is using a priority framework to give people access to the vaccine in stages. All members of Group 3: Frontline Essential Workers are now eligible to get vaccinated. Group 3 includes individuals who work in colleges and universities and many other critical industries that we know are common places of employment for our students. If you are currently working, we strongly encourage you to visit the NC DHHS website to determine if the kind of work you do qualifies you for access to vaccination now. If you are employed by the University, you should have received an email with further information. 

In addition, NC DHHS has clarified that students who live on college or university campuses will now be eligible to get vaccinated as part of Group 4: Adults at Higher Risk for Exposure, because residence halls are considered congregate living settings. Members of Group 4 are scheduled to be eligible for vaccination beginning on March 24. We will communicate directly with our residential students closer to that time with further instructions.  

How do I get the vaccine?

Some important things to know about the process for getting vaccinated when you are eligible:

• There are multiple sites in our community and across the state offering vaccines. Please visit Find My Spot to identify sites where appointments are available for your Group. Public health officials are working to make the vaccine available in more locations as the vaccine supply increases, both by opening new clinics and working with private providers (e.g., pharmacies). 
• It may well take a while for some of you to be able to get an appointment, as availability of the vaccine remains a bit unpredictable. If you can’t find an appointment the first time you try to find one, just keep checking back. We recommend that you take the first appointment you can locate that meets your specific scheduling needs.
• Keep in mind that if you get the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, you will likely be scheduled to receive your second dose at the same location where you receive your first dose.
• Individual vaccine sites may or may not be able to tell you beforehand which version of the vaccine they are offering. Federal, state, and local health officials all recommend that you get the version of the vaccine that is first available to you. If you have questions or concerns about which vaccine you should get and when you should get it, please consult with your healthcare provider.
• We are hosting a vaccine clinic on campus for individuals who are employed by colleges and universities in Guilford County. If you work on campus, you’ll receive a specific link to the signup process for the UNCG clinic. As a reminder, you may be able to find an appointment more quickly in the community, so we encourage you to consider all of your options. Unfortunately, we are not able to vaccinate students who are employed off-campus at our on-campus clinic at this time.  
• Regardless of where you get your vaccine, there is no cost to you for the vaccine, and you will not be asked to provide detailed insurance information.
• You will be asked to provide basic information so that the state can track distribution of the vaccine, and you will be provided with a card that specifies which vaccine you are given. It’s important to keep this card in a safe place where it will not be lost. 

We appreciate your patience as we work to provide you with both information and opportunities to get vaccinated. The following resources have additional helpful information on the COVID-19 vaccines and the process for getting vaccinated. If you have additional questions, you can contact the NC DHHS COVID-19 Hotline at 1.888.675.4567 or email covid19info@guilfordcountync.gov.

More Information and Resources

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Frequently Asked Questions about the COVID-19 Vaccines

CDC

Understanding COVID-19 Vaccines

Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

What to Expect at Your Vaccine Appointment

Frequently Asked Questions about the COVID-19 Vaccines

Additional information about what getting vaccinated means relative to quarantine and other activities can be found on the vaccine update page of our COVID-19 website.

To stay up-to-date on the latest important news and operational updates, please continue to monitor your email, follow @UNCG on your preferred social media platform, download our mobile app (the one with our logo and the blue background; we will use this frequently to send messages and provide timely updates) from the Google or iTunes app store to receive push notifications directly to your phone.