The following message was sent to all UCOP staff by Rachael Nava on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021:

Dear colleagues:

I hope you are well and are continuing to take care of yourself. I am writing to update you on the program UCOP will employ to provide staff COVID-19 vaccinations. I know there is a variety of emotions surrounding vaccinations — excitement, relief, concerns, etc. — as well as questions about when and how vaccinations will be administered for the UCOP community. We are committed to keeping you informed.*

The COVID-19 vaccine rollout across California and the nation continues to be a very dynamic situation, with a constantly evolving vaccine supply and public health guidance that must be adapted to statewide and regional circumstances.

University of California Health (UCH) has been a key partner to the state in administering the COVID-19 vaccine to UC health care workers, UC patients over 65+, as well as eligible staff groups, which are determined by UCH leadership in coordination with the California Department of Public Health. UCOP is participating in UC’s systemwide vaccination program and is now preparing to provide vaccines to our staff based on available supply.

Through partnerships with UCSF Health and UC Riverside Health, our vaccine program will start with the following staff members in our Oakland and Riverside locations:

• Staff Age 65+: Eligible immediately upon completing registration, dependent on vaccine and appointment availability
• Essential on-site staff: Eligible after staff age 65+ have been offered vaccination, dependent on vaccine and appointment availability
• All other UCOP staff: Timing to be determined based on public health guidelines and available vaccine supply.

Vaccination information by location: Initial information by UCOP location is attached and available on the UCOP COVID-19 Vaccine Program website, where it will be updated when new information becomes available. We are developing vaccination options for our UCDC and UCOP Sacramento locations.

While this is good news, it is important to understand how limited vaccine supplies remain. As demand continues to outpace supply, we and other health care providers face the real possibility of running out of vaccines each week. In addition, we are continuing to expand our capacity to provide vaccinations, so that we are prepared to vaccinate greater numbers of people as the vaccine supply and distribution increase.

As we work to make the COVID-19 vaccine available to UCOP staff through the UCOP vaccine program, you may also receive opportunities from county sites, your health provider or other sources. You should not hesitate to take advantage of those opportunities should they become available sooner.

For the latest information about our UCOP vaccine program, please reference the following:

• UCOP COVID-19 Vaccine Program website, including eligible employee groups and location-specific information
• COVID-19: Vaccine Information Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• UC Interim Policy: SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Program(as of 12/14/20)

While we strongly encourage all staff to be vaccinated, it is not currently mandated or required. We all want this pandemic to end. A safe and effective vaccine can end the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts believe that at least 70% of people need to be vaccinated before the pandemic will end. In addition to preventing death, by reducing your chances of getting sick with COVID-19 through vaccination, you will also prevent long-lasting effects of infection that have been reported. If you are in an eligible group and choose to decline the vaccine when offered by UCOP, you will be asked to complete a form confirming your decision.

The UCOP vaccine program is being led and managed by UCOP Operations, and additional information will be communicated as it becomes available. If you have questions about the UCOP COVID-19 Vaccine Program, please email UCOP-COVID19-Vaccine@ucop.edu. All inquiries will be treated with confidentiality and sensitivity.

Lastly, we are excited to share our partnership with UCR Health to stand up a UCR Health drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic to serve UC staff and patients at our UCPath location in Riverside. UCOP staff are working closely with the UCR Health team to plan logistics and avoid disruptions to UCPath operations. We are in the early stages of planning and more detailed information will be provided as it becomes available.

Thank you for your continued patience and perseverance in support of UC’s mission through your work here at UCOP.

Take care,
Rachael Nava
Executive Vice President, Operations

*Information provided in this communication is subject to change based on state and local public health guidance and available vaccine supply.

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