New York State Announces Eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccination

Dear Members of the Syracuse University Community:

We are writing with an important update related to the COVID-19 vaccination effort in New York State immediately impacting members of the Syracuse University community.

Earlier today the New York State Department of Health announced an important change in guidance related to those populations eligible to receive the COVID vaccine, as part of Phase 1B of the NYS vaccine distribution effort. This change is to include college and university faculty and instructors—specifically and only those teaching in-person classes during the spring semester—as a population eligible to be vaccinated during Phase 1B of the vaccine distribution effort. Phase 1B eligibility begins today, Jan. 11, 2021.

In addition to faculty teaching in-person classes in the spring, several additional Syracuse University populations are now immediately eligible to register for the COVID-19 vaccination. They include:

• Instructors teaching in-person classes (including graduate assistants teaching an in-person course in the spring)
• Staff employed at the Child Care Center and Pre-School
• All staff of the Department of Public Safety
• Staff performing responsibilities specific to fire and life safety
• Medical transport staff and SU Ambulance
• Staff in Parking and Transit Services
• Syracuse University Testing & COVID Response staff
• Student teachers assigned to teach in a local school district during the spring semester
• Any individual 75 years of age or older

All vaccinations are being managed and administered by the Onondaga County Department of Health. If you are a Syracuse University employee that qualifies for vaccination given the above listed populations, and who desires to receive the COVID vaccine, we encourage you to take the following steps:

• Visit https://covid19.ongov.net/vaccine/ to confirm your eligibility and review frequently asked questions concerning the vaccine and vaccination process.
• Register for the vaccination and attest to your eligibility by visiting https://covid19.ongov.net/vaccine/1st-dose-screening-form/.
• Once you schedule your appointment, you will receive a “Submission ID.” Please bring this Submission ID and a government-issued identification card to your vaccination appointment.

Finally, be advised that New York State—not Syracuse University—makes all determinations related to vaccine eligibility. Eligibility determinations are assigned based a variety of factors including the risk associated with workplace exposure, and as a function of the availability of vaccine supplied to New York State by the federal government. Accordingly, the implementation of the New York State vaccination plan is inherently dynamic. For this reason, the Syracuse University Public Health team will continue to share new information, as we receive it, related to updates and changes impacting the vaccine eligibility and the availability of vaccination resources in our community.

Sincerely,

Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer

J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

John Liu
Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost