Latest information on colleague, patient COVID-19 vaccines

Below is a summary of the latest information about COVID-19 vaccine plans, internally and for the public. These are the plans as of today, Jan. 25.

This is the latest information about colleague, provider and student vaccinations:

Who:

• All Nebraska Medicine and UNMC employees and clinical students fall into phase 1a of the CDC guidelines.
• Within the organization, everyone has been assigned a level based on their risk of exposure through their job function.
  • Level 1 and 2 colleagues and students provide care or interact directly with patients/specimens.
  • Everyone else who is employed by Nebraska Medicine or UNMC falls into level 3.

What:

• 77% of level 1 and 2 colleagues and clinical students will have received at least their first dose by the end of January.
• Scheduling is underway for employees in level 3.
• If you want to receive a vaccine as part of the CDC phase 1a, you should make an appointment now as future allocations are not guaranteed.
• If you do not want to receive a vaccine or have received it elsewhere, update your information in the Health Tracking System.
• Volunteers will continue to be needed for clinics.

Where:

• All employee vaccination clinics will remain in lower Storz Pavilion.
• The Universal Swab Center (site at 144th street and Millard Avenue) will not offer colleague vaccine clinics at this time, but may be used for new colleague vaccinations after mass vaccination clinics are complete.

When:

• Colleague vaccinations clinics started in mid-December and are expected to continue through February. Additional first-dose clinics will only be added as allocations allow.

How to sign up:

• If you are in level 1, 2 or 3 (employed by Nebraska Medicine or UNMC), you can sign yourself up at this link.
  • Be sure to let your leader know that you have made an appointment.
• Follow these instructions:
  • Days that have available appointments appear in black. Those that are full are gray.
  • Click on a date to schedule, then chose the time in the right-hand column.
  • Add your name, email address and your phone number.
  • Select “Book” at the bottom of the page.

This is what we know about public/patient vaccinations:

Who:

• County health departments will be responsible for coordination and administration of all COVID-19 vaccine doses locally.
• Nebraska Medicine is not receiving doses to give to our patients.

What:

• In Douglas County, public vaccinations will occur at mass clinics that are being planned right now. Nebraska Medicine, CHI Health and Methodist Health System will be supporting the Douglas County vaccination efforts. This may include staffing, pharmacy support, logistics, space, etc.
• Sarpy/Cass counties are likely to use community partners to give its doses. At this time, Nebraska Medicine has not been asked to support vaccine administration in Sarpy/Cass counties.

Where:

• The health departments are working to identify several potential locations but have not finalized the list.
• We expect they will be centralized locations with access to mass transportation.

When:

• We anticipate that the CDC phase 1b will open at the beginning of February.
• This phase includes people who are 65 years or older, as well as those between 18 and 64 years old with underlying conditions.

How the public/patients will sign up:

Here is what is being communicated to patients as vaccine administration begins for the public:

• Patients should register on the statewide website or use the corresponding phone number.
• The website and phone line should open on Thursday, Jan. 28.
• On the website (or phone), Nebraskans can choose where they want to be vaccinated and either make an appointment through the website or receive directions for scheduling.

By using the statewide site, everyone will be directed to one central location and only use the site where they will schedule their vaccination appointment.

We will continue to share updates on public vaccination when we know more. You can also find up-to-date information at both websites below. These should be shared with anyone desiring more information:

• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
• Nebraska Medicine vaccine webpage