Faculty and Staff - September 28, 2021

Dear Colleagues:

The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff are at the forefront of our minds as we continue to receive information about new variants of the COVID-19 virus and available vaccines/boosters that will help keep our campus community safe without interrupting the services and quality education we provide to our students. I am pleased to say that Health Services reports 67% of in-person students (includes resident students, students attending in-person classes, and student workers) are fully vaccinated. We expect that percentage to continue to increase with our robust vaccination opportunities and incentives programs.

As we await further guidance from the State regarding President Biden’s recent announcement of a federal mandate for employers with 100 or more employees to have all employees vaccinated or tested weekly, we would like to better understand the vaccine status of Winthrop employees. We have developed a very short survey and would appreciate your voluntary response by Thursday, Sept. 30, at 5 p.m.  The information will be helpful in determining Winthrop’s response with regard to the need for additional vaccine clinics and/or COVID-19 testing opportunities for employees.  Responses will remain anonymous.

Following is updated interim guidance from the CDC which allows millions of Americans who are at highest risk for COVID-19 to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot to help increase their protection.  The CDC recommends:

  • People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
  • People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
  • People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and
  • People aged 18–64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

Since that last bullet above could apply to many faculty and staff, we have confirmed that the upcoming vaccine clinics will offer the Pfizer-BioNTech booster (only if you completed the two dose series of Pfizer-BioNTech at least six months before the booster) to faculty and staff at these events. Appointments are not required, but you must bring your vaccination card with you to the clinic:

Oct. 1 – Campus Green, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Pfizer and Moderna offered

Oct. 6 – Mobile clinic, Pfizer and Moderna offered, see route and schedule

Oct. 14 – McBryde Hall, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson offered

If you cannot attend the above on-campus opportunities, SC DHEC provides a link to locate a vaccine provider near you. Please visit SC DHEC for more information about the vaccine, including boosters.

I hope you will complete the survey by Thursday, Sept. 30, at 5 p.m. and also find the above information helpful as we work to keep our campus as safe as we can in this on-going pandemic.

Sincerely,

George

George W. Hynd
Interim President