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Health and Wellness

March 5, 2021 – Vaccine Phase Update for Faculty and Staff

Posted by on Friday, March 5, 2021 in Community Messages.

Good morning, Vanderbilt faculty and staff.

Yesterday, you received a survey request from Occupational Health about the next phase of vaccination eligibility. We are excited about this progression and wanted to share some additional information and reminders.

The Nashville Metro Public Health Department will move forward to Phase 1c in COVID-19 vaccine scheduling on Monday, March 8. This phase includes individuals 16 years old and older who meet criteria regarding certain high-risk medical conditions.

As a member of the Vanderbilt community, you have several options for receiving the vaccination available to you, should you meet high-risk conditions or age criteria:

  • If you have been seen at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and meet the high-risk condition criteria, you will receive a system-generated My Health At Vanderbilt (MHAV) message with instructions on how to schedule your vaccination. If you do not have a MHAV account established, please visit MyHealthAtVanderbilt.com and create an account. It is also helpful to download the MHAV mobile app and enable notifications. Scheduled invitations are determined by VUMC and are based on vaccine supply and a centralized risk stratification process.
  • If you replied to the confidential survey shared by the Occupational Health Clinic yesterday morning, your information will be reviewed, you will be notified if you have met the eligibility criteria and you will receive additional communication and instructions early next week for scheduling your vaccination. All information will be kept confidential. As future phases commence, the Occupational Health Clinic will send similar emails and surveys. Note: Active staff, faculty and postdocs do not need to be VUMC patients to receive a vaccination through the Occupational Health Clinic.

Vaccine eligibility is dictated by the Tennessee Department of Health. As a vaccination provider, VUMC, not VU, evaluates whether individuals meet the TDOH eligibility criteria.

High-risk medical conditions:

  • Chronic renal disease
  • COPD, pulmonary fibrosis or moderate-to-severe asthma
  • Obesity (BMI ≥30)
  • Heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, hypertension
  • Sickle cell disease, thalassemia
  • Cerebrovascular disease, stroke
  • Liver disease
  • Currently pregnant
  • Immunocompromised conditions, such as receiving chemotherapy, taking daily steroids or other immunosuppressants, those with HIV/AIDS or another diagnosed high-risk immunodeficiency
  • Diabetes requiring medication

When you are eligible to receive the vaccine, we strongly urge you to explore every option available, including your local health department and other community providers, to get it—not just to protect yourself, but to help achieve a broad level of immunity in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19.

Please contact 615-936-0955 with any questions.

For more information, please visit the following vaccination resource sites:

Thank you,

Tracey George
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Laura Nairon
Interim Associate Vice Chancellor, People and Business Services