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UAB campus community,

We have come a long way since this time last year, thanks to your dedication and sacrifice. With free, safe and effective vaccines available to all, I look forward to a successful fall semester together.

Roughly 70% of UAB employees have been vaccinated at UAB Medicine. Through survey data and confirmed vaccinations, we estimate that at least 12,500 UAB students (more than half) have been vaccinated, and incentives are now available to students to get vaccinated and upload their vaccine card (see Student Vaccine Incentives below).

As we continue to consult public health and infectious disease experts to safely pursue our mission, today University of Alabama System Chancellor Finis St. John issued a memo updating the Health and Safety Plan (effective July 26) endorsed by the UA System Health and Safety Task Force to guide in-person activities this fall. Please read Chancellor St. John’s full memo here. Highlights include:

• The Task Force remains concerned about the rise in cases and the Delta variant, and will remain active and continue to monitor data on campus and in the community; safety requirements are subject to change
• Unvaccinated individuals are expected to assist in protecting the campus community by using face coverings inside campus buildings and should practice social distancing wherever possible
• Individuals in a clinical setting remain subject to requirements, which may include face covering, social distancing, visitor restrictions, health screenings and other established protocols for that setting
• Campus events, including those sponsored by student organizations, will follow pre-pandemic university policies (athletic events remain subject to NCAA and/or conference requirements)
• On-campus COVID testing will remain available

Unvaccinated individuals risk significant inconveniences:

• Periods of isolation and quarantine associated with an exposure or a positive test
• Possible required close-contact, symptomatic and for-cause testing

• Unvaccinated students who reside in a residential hall and have a close contact or test positive may be required to arrange alternate living arrangements (e.g., their permanent off-campus address) for a period of time
• Unvaccinated individuals are expected to use face coverings inside campus buildings

If you have not yet been vaccinated, please do so now. Data continue to demonstrate that vaccines are safe and effective, and the benefits far outweigh rare, minor side effects. Learn more about vaccines here.

Student Vaccine Incentives

Students who receive a vaccine on campus will receive a T-shirt or hat. Also, students who get vaccinated or have been fully vaccinated and share their immunization information with Student Health Services will receive $20 in Blazer Bucks. Registered student organizations that have at least 70% of their members vaccinated by Aug. 23 will receive money for catering, allowed purchases and/or travel.

Click here to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Click here if you have symptoms or a close contact.

Please continue to look to official UAB communications — including Greenmail for students and eReporter for employees — for additional updates, guidelines and resources, and please be flexible if circumstances change and guidelines are updated. The UAB United website will continue to be updated to reflect the latest information.

Thank you for all you continue to do to stay #UABUnited.

Sincerely,

Ray Watts
President
University of Alabama at Birmingham