A majority of faculty members who answered a survey about mandatory COVID-19 vaccination at the University of Michigan believe the vaccine should be required for all students, faculty and staff, with limited medical and religious exemptions.
The survey results also showed most respondents believe that if U-M does not mandate vaccination, instructors should be able to opt out of in-person instruction in the fall.
Currently, U-M requires vaccination only for students planning to live in residence halls and other university housing.
The fact that an overwhelming majority of our faculty who responded believe that vaccine mandates are necessary to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff and community, thats a great message, said Faculty Senate Chair Allen Liu, who supports a vaccine mandate. Liu is an associate professor of mechanical engineering, of biomedical engineering, and of biophysics.
Liu sent the survey last week to members of the Faculty Senate all professorial faculty, librarians, full-time research faculty, executive officers and deans as well as clinical faculty and lecturers.
Amongthe Faculty Senate, 1,484 out of 4,297 members responded, with 1,305 (89.1 percent) saying they support making vaccinations mandatory for students, faculty and staff. Among clinical faculty, 487 out of 2,024 clinical faculty members responded, with 418 (88 percent) saying they support a mandate. Among lecturers, 399 out of 1,169 responded, with 331 (85.1 percent) favoring a vaccine requirement.
Asked if instructors should be able to opt out of in-person teaching if there is no vaccine mandate, 76 percent of Faculty Senate members who responded, or 1,054, said yes. Among clinical faculty, 67.3 percent, or 288, said yes. For lecturers, 89.5 percent, or 333, favored the opt-out provision.
Liu said he shared the survey results with President Mark Schlissel, Provost Susan Collins and Board of Regents Chair Jordan Acker. Liu said Schlissel thanked him and said he and members of his team are continuing to consider other possible mandates.
U-M officials have been strongly encouraging students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated and voluntarily report their vaccine status to the university.
We appreciate our faculty governance colleagues for engaging in this important issue for our community, university spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen said. While there are many complex factorsas we consider any changes to our current approach,we know that the approved COVID-19 vaccines are highly safe and effective. We ask our faculty and staff to get vaccinated and report their vaccination status to help our campus stay safe and return to the activities we all enjoy.
In an email sharing the survey results with faculty members, Liu also strongly encouraged them to report their vaccination status via Wolverine Access.
This is not the first time faculty members have expressed support for a vaccine mandate. In April, members of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs and the Senate Assembly endorsed a resolution encouraging the administration to mandate vaccines with limited legally mandated exceptions.
SACUA is the executive arm of the universitys central faculty governance system, which includes the Senate Assembly and the Faculty Senate. The Senate Assembly consists of 74 elected faculty members from the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses.
Liu said he believes making the vaccine mandatory with limited exceptions is the best way to keep people safe and allow the university to return to a more normal in-person semester.
In my opinion, I think vaccination is currently the most effective tool for us to come back from the pandemic, Liu said, noting that vaccines werent yet available last year at this time. Now that we have this great tool under our belts, we have to use it to our advantage.
The Moore County Health Department will hold a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Vass on Thursday.
Open to all residents aged 12 and older, the event is scheduled to run from 3 to 6 p.m. under the pavilion at Sandy Ramey Keith Park on U.S. 1. People younger than 18 seeking vaccination must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who can provide consent, the health department said.
Health department staff will be administering the first dose of Pfizers two-shot vaccine, which is the only vaccine currently authorized for younger teenagers by the Food and Drug Administration. The department noted that all vaccinated adults in North Carolina are automatically entered in a statewide drawing to win $1 million, while vaccinated residents under the age of 18 have a chance to win $125,000 for post-secondary education.
A total of 46,245 local residents, or about 46 percent of the countys population, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Data from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services showed that 1,932 people in Moore County were waiting to receive their second dose of the vaccine on Monday.
In addition to Thursdays clinic, shots are available every Thursday from 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. and from 1 to 4:15 p.m. at the health departments office in Carthage. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 910-947-7468 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Moore County, where about 90 new infections have been reported in the past two weeks. The positivity rate for coronavirus testing in the county stood at 7.5 percent on Monday, higher than the statewide average of 5.8 percent.
A total of 9,166 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the county since the start of the pandemic, and at least 196 residents have died of complications from the disease.
Employees in Athens hospitals will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, both Piedmont Healthcare and St. Marys Health Care System confirm.
As COVID-19 vaccination rates in Clarke County hover just around 40%, the countys two health systems both announced that its employees will be required to receive the vaccine.
Piedmont Athens Regional and St. Marys Health Care System are the two largest private employers in Athens, according to Athens Economic Development Department. St. Marys employs about 1,850 people in Athens-Clarke and Oconee County and Piedmont Athens Regional employs over 2,600 people as of 2020.
More: Athens area COVID-19 update: Oconee leads in vaccinated %, Barrow has most new infections
St. Marys, a part of Trinity Health, will be requiring all employees to receive the vaccine and Piedmont currently is requiring Piedmont leaders, physicians, providers and new employees to receive the vaccine, with a few rare exemptions, according to a statement from Piedmont.
At Piedmont, there is a Sept. 1 deadline for those required to receive the vaccine and following that deadline, whether or not to mandate the vaccine for the remainder of the staff will be decided.
This is in keeping with our policy of requiring proof of vaccination or (a blood test)confirming immunity to Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) and Varicella for new employees and in requiring the annual flu vaccine for all current employees, said a statement from Piedmont.
At St. Marys, proof of vaccination must be submitted by Sept. 21. There are exemptions for employees, but if an employee who does not meet these exemptions refuses the vaccine, they will no longer be employed at Trinity Health.
Exemptions will be made for those who have medical conditions that prohibit vaccination and those with strongly held religious beliefs. These exemptions must be formally requested, documented and approved prior to set deadlines, according to a statement from Trinity Health.
The vaccine mandates come with the rise of what is known as the Delta variant across the county.
The Delta variant is much more contagious and potentially more deadly than earlier forms of the virus. Natural immunity to the Delta variant is very low, even among those who had another form of COVID, according to St. Marys.
Within St. Marys, COVID-19 hospitalizations have been increasing over the past two weeks and as of July 15, there were seven patients at St. Marys with COVID-19. It is unclear, however,if these numbers are due to the Delta variant. That is determined by a procedure that St. Marys does not perform and is performed by the Georgia Department of Health at their request.
Although these numbers are low compared to previous surges, cases are rising and the increase is disturbing after months of improvement, said Montez Carter, President and CEO of St. Marys Health Care System.
The popular sentiment out there is that the US has gotten through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the various types of COVID-19 vaccines became available for public distribution, the US has made a concerted effort to get as much of the population vaccinated as possible. Case numbers across the nation started to significantly decrease and more aspects of our pre-pandemic lives started to return. You saw fewer mask requirements and more people at public events, to include sporting events. Especially compared to the rest of the world, it appeared that COVID was all but done in America.
Yet, somebody forgot to tell COVID-19 that is the case. COVID-19 case numbers are starting to rise again in various parts of the country, especially in areas with significant numbers of unvaccinated players. This uptick is impacting the sporting world. Just this past week, a New York Yankees/Boston Red Sox game was postponed when six Yankee players (most of them vaccinated) tested positive for COVID-19. While individual players still are placed on health and safety protocols in various sports, from baseball, golf and the Olympics, there had not been any major cancellation of games/events on a team for some timeat least until now.
For the NFL, there is a two-tiered system for COVID-19 protocols. For those who are vaccinated, the requirements regarding mask wearing/daily testing/strict isolation requirements/prohibition on non-football related activities no longer apply. Additionally, teams that reported 85% or greater of players vaccinated could open training camps with the drastically reduced COVID-19 protocols (as of this past week). Given how rough that could be on players last year, there is plenty of incentive to get vaccinated and regain some lost freedoms. Yet, in recent reporting, two NFL franchises have less than 50% of players and team personnel vaccinated (Washington, Indianapolis). The same reports indicated that at least four franchises are over 85% vaccination rates (Pittsburgh, Miami, Carolina, Denver) with an unconfirmed total of ten teams exceeding that threshold.
Given the sensitive nature of medical information, we do not know which players are confirmed vaccinated and which players are not. Additionally, we do not know the reasons for the 4 teams with the low vaccination numbers. However, we seem to know that the Texans do not appear in the bottom 2 or the top 4. Perhaps this is a positive, given that in nearly every other poll/ranking scheme, the Texans have a stranglehold on the #32 position. While we dont know exact numbers for vaccinated Texans players, a recent interview with Texans Head Coach David Culley indicated that the team was in good shape as far as vaccinations went.
While there is no move to alter the plan for the NFL stadiums to have max or near-max capacity for the coming 2021 season, the recent rise of COVID-19 numbers and impact on sporting events should give us some pause. Most could recall the number of games that were shifted to weird times last year (think the Steelers/Ravens matchup that got flexed from Thanksgiving night to that vaunted Wednesday mid-afternoon broadcast time) The recent impact to the New York/Boston matchup, the sole MLB game with a projected primetime audience this past Thursday right after the All-Star Break should remind sports fans that COVID can still disrupt our sporting pleasures.
While there are ever more opportunities to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the US, there are vast swaths of the country that will not take advantage of those opportunities. Again, the reasons are varied, either by necessity or by choice. This article will not address those debates, most of which likely dominate your respective favored news source/social media preferences. However, with a rise in new variants in COVID-19, and reporting that shows lower numbers than expected vaccinations of team personnel, the disruptions that so overshadowed sports in 2020 are not leaving the field for 2021.
Hopefully, those vaccination numbers will increase, the NFL season will be able to kick off on time with nearly full houses and we can fully enjoy the coming season (even for the forlorn Texans fans). However, we cannot ignore that COVID-19 still exists in the world. The various vaccines did not eradicate it, not even close. As a result, it could return to disrupt the sporting world. While those vaccinated should have greater defenses against its impacts, vaccination alone cannot assure that COVID-19 wont return to upend schedules. The Texans, aside from the loss of a few defensive players from a Week 9 tilt at Jacksonville, did not see a major disruption to their schedule in 2020. [Your respective religious affiliation figurehead] willing, they will not see a COVID-driven one in 2021.
Children in the UK will get a Covid vaccine only if they are over 12 and extremely vulnerable, or live with someone at risk, as scientists raised concerns about inflammation around the heart linked to the Pfizer jab.
Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said he accepted the advice of scientific advisers that only children over 12 with severe neuro-disabilities, Downs syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities should be allowed to get the Pfizer vaccine. Children over 12 who live in the same house as people who are immunosuppressed will also be eligible for jabs.
The opinion of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) expands the eligibility for children, after a previous decision that vulnerable 16- and 17-year-olds could get vaccinated.
Some ministers had signalled that all over-12s could start a programme of being vaccinated from September, contributing to population-wide immunity against Covid.
However, the advisory body said: The health benefits in this population are small, and the benefits to the wider population are highly uncertain. At this time, JCVI is of the view that the health benefits of universal vaccination in children and young people below the age of 18 years do not outweigh the potential risks.
The Pfizer vaccine has been authorised for people aged 12 years and over in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
However, the JCVI highlighted emerging reports from the UK and other countries of rare but serious adverse events, including myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart), following the use of Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2 and Moderna mRNA1273 vaccines in younger adults. The scientists also said the risk of long Covid was very low in children.
Javid said he had asked the NHS to prepare to vaccinate those eligible as soon as possible and wanted the JCVI to keep vaccination for children under review.
The decision has split scientists, many of whom had expected the Pfizer vaccine to be given the green light for over-12s.
Dr Stephen Griffin, a virologist from the University of Leeds, said: Its unclear what the JCVI knows that the MHRA doesnt, noting that many countries had begun vaccinating children aged 12 and above.
There does seem to be a link with vaccines and myocarditis but its very mild and very rare but with Covid, there is a risk of long Covid, he said.
Gabriel Scally, a visiting professor of public health at the University of Bristol and a member of Independent Sage, said the JCVI decision was not logical, noting that the vaccine had been authorised as safe and effective for over-12s by the MHRA and was being used in this age-group in a number of countries.
Yes, there are some side-effects, but they are treatable, he noted, highlighting that there was no evidence that the vaccine had caused any deaths in this age group, while Covid has in rare instances.
But Prof Adam Finn, a professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol and a JCVI member, said there was pretty much incontrovertible evidence emerging that the heart inflammation was a real safety signal, although the number of serious cases was very, very small.
Overall, instances of this heart inflammation are about one in 100,000, said Jeremy Brown, a professor of respiratory infection at UCL and a JCVI member, cautioning that there was not a lot of data at the moment. However, he said, the incidence of these types of side-effects was more prevalent in boys than girls, and at the older end of the adolescent spectrum than younger.
School leaders warned of more disruption to education next autumn. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, acknowledge the need for caution but said it leaves us with the potential for very high numbers of infections among children in the autumn term particularly given the relaxation of wider restrictions in society.
This could mean yet more educational disruption as well as causing wider public health concerns. It is therefore imperative that the government places an intense focus on supporting schools and colleges with Covid protection measures.
The SEC has schools in states with the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the country, but the conferences commissioner sounds like hes ready to get tough with football teams who aren't getting vaccinated at a high enough rate.
Speaking at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala., on Monday, Greg Sankey said all teams will be "expected to play as scheduled" because games won't be rescheduled due to COVID-19 and that it's up to teams to get their players vaccinated.
"That means your team needs to be healthy to compete, and if not, that game won't be rescheduled," Sankey said. "And thus, to dispose of the game, the 'forfeit' word comes up at this point."
GETTING TOUGH: Big 12 officials to continue cracking down on Horns Down gesture
According to Sankey, six of the conferences 14 teams have reached 80% vaccination, but he didnt name the programs. Once a team reaches the 85% vaccination threshold, the SEC no longer requires its players to be tested regularly or wear masks inside the team's facilities.
That number needs to grow and grow rapidly, Sankey said.
A week earlier, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby delivered a similar message.
Frankly, anyone not getting vaccinated is taking unnecessary and unwarranted risks, said Bowlsby, who also said most of the Big 12 teams have reached at least 75% vaccination. It's shortsighted to not get vaccinated. If indeed the delta variant is as infectious as it is reported to be, not getting vaccinated is rolling the dice. As student athletes, you're also rolling the dice on whether you're going to participate.
College football games around the country last season were rescheduled due to COVID-19 outbreaks, including a Texas A&M-Tennessee matchup in November and LSU games against Alabama and Florida. The Texas A&M-Mississippi game was postponed twice and eventually canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak at Ole Miss.
"We know nothing is perfect," Sankey said, "but the availability and the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines are an important and incredible product of science, not a political football, and we need to do our part to support healthy society."
Across the country, 59.4 percent of people 18 and older are fully vaccinated. Only six states are below 40 percent fully vaccinated in that age group, and four of those states Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi - have schools in the SEC. The other two states below 40 percent are West Virginia and Wyoming.
Vice President Kamala Harris tested negative for COVID-19 after meeting with several Texas House Democratic lawmakers who recently contracted the virus, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed on Monday.
"I think the vice presidents office put out that she was tested and there was no detection of COVID-19," Psaki said. "They also put out some specific details about their proximity to the individuals who tested positive as well. We take these precautions incredibly seriously and abide by the guidance of our help and medical experts."
Five of the Texas House Democrats who traveled to Washington D.C. have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days. Harris met with the Texas lawmakers last Tuesday.
When asked whether the White House was disappointed that the lawmakers did not wear masks on their flight to the nations capital, Psaki declined to directly respond.
REP. RONNY JACKSON HITS TEXAS DEMOCRATS ON MASK HYPOCRISY, SAYS THEY SHOULDN'T BE TAKE SERIOUSLY
"I dont think Im going to be in a position here to assess what safety precautions they may or may not have taken. Obviously, these individuals were out there trying to elevate the issue of an individuals right to vote," Psaki said.
"Whats important for everybody to know is that the vice president was tested," she added. "She, of course, takes these precautions seriously and we would follow any advice our public health officials give us."
Psaki said "no additional precautions" were being taken to separate Harris from President Biden following her meeting with the lawmakers.
Harris went to Walter Reed Medical Center on Sunday for what her office described as a routine doctor's appointment. Officials said Harris was not in close contact with the infected lawmakers and would not need to quarantine.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Psaki told reporters that Harris' appointment was already scheduled before the meeting.
"It was a visit that was scheduled for several weeks, long before the visit of the Texas legislators, a routine appointment which she had, again, scheduled several weeks ago," Psaki said.
Cleo Subido from OUC website
Looking for a quality used fire truck? Selling one? Visit our sponsor Command Fire Apparatus
Previously: DC 911 directors blunt email highlights critical staffing & performance problems
In a Friday email, the interim director of DC 911 pointed out that less than 35 percent of the staff has been vaccinated for Covid-19. Cleo Subido says thats the lowest percentage of any District of Columbia agency. Subido reminded Office of Unified Communications (OUC) workers that she will be monitoring to make sure those who arent vaccinated remained masked while on duty. Thats just one of several workplace issues Subido covered in a long and blunt message to her staff.
As previously reported, the email also notified staff that mandatory overtime was starting. This is due to only half the employees being available to work at any given time, leaving the 911 center below minimum staffing (that story here). For those who are coming to work, Subido was very clear about her expectations.
Subido described employees who feel they dont have to follow rules meant for everyone. Among those rules, sitting at the specific work station for the job theyre assigned and not leaving the building prior to their shift ending. Subido shared the impression one new employee had about working at OUC: I have never seen so many people so interested in not working and just using their day to visit or spread gossip.
Subido also pointed out that she had to learn from me of a recent incident where a radio channel wasnt answered for four-minutes. She made it clear notification must be made internally when problems and mistakes occur.
What I get from reading this lengthy email is that Cleo Subido is putting the interests of the public above those working at DC 911. Its long overdue. The Office of the DC Auditor is in the process of taking a look at OUCs persistent performance issues. If those investigators want to know whats behind the long-standing problems of radios not being answered, delayed calls and calls sent to the wrong address, Subidos email may be a good start.
Here are the excerpts:
Vaccination or mask
I want to let you know that I will receive a confidential copy of all vaccinated personnel so that I and only me will be aware of who should still be wearing a mask and who can go without one. Remember, if you have not been fully vaccinated you must wear a mask at all times indoors. Also, the OUC has the worst numbers in all the district agencies in terms of percentage of staff thats been vaccinated. Please make sure you reach out for science information and not social media information if you get your vaccines you get a day off and $51.00 if you do it in DC. Less than 35% of our employees have reported being vaccinated. If youve been vaccinated you are still of course permitted to wear a mask. We are following all of the CDC guidelines and will continue to do so.
Assigned seating
Dispatchers, I am ordering permanent signs for the consoles indicating the position 1D, CW, 2D, Channel 1, 11 etc. Starting Wednesday, July 21st we will sit at the console we are assigned. If you have an issue with that, take it to your union. I am done. Thats where you will sit. If you refuse to move you will be written up and placed on administrative leave pending investigation. If you are insubordinate, you will be written up. I am not sure when it became ok to ignore directives but I promise you, I wont tolerate it.
You cant leave work early
There should be NOBODY leaving the building before 0615 am or 0615 pm. I am not sure how many times I have to say that but if I need to, we can go to a scanning system.
Special deals
Many of you have historical relationships that are causing you to use poor judgement. This is that last time I will talk about this in a group setting, any favoritism will be dealt with individually. You and I will treat each other professionally USE YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND TO REPORT THINGS, SEEK HELP, NOTIFY ETC. If you dont know your chain of command, ask a supervisor to help you. For example, my Chain of Command consists of the Deputy Mayor, the City Administrator and the Mayor in that order. Thats what chain of command means. No matter how much Id love to have us working on a beach in Hawaii for 2 hours a day getting paid for 12, I cant do it. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS DISTRICT AND ITS PEOPLE. Forget the past discretions youve been allowed to have slip by Those days are over. We are committed to following the rules and being transparent about it. Anything that gets in the way of us improving performance, treating each other with respect, providing our responders and constituents with the care they deserve, or meeting the objectives of our mission I will handle without delay.
If you screw up, fess up
We had another situation where a radio channel was not answered for 4 min. yet I did not get a call about it AGAIN, Mr. Statter was kind enough to inform me of what is happening in my own center. If this occurs again, any person that was aware of the incident and did not ensure I was immediately notified will be written up I have asked for months very kindly and still, its not happening. This is a directive, if you do not follow it, you will be written up. Supervisors, inform staff of this often I will not accept any less an I expect full cooperation. As you can see, my vision is clear. This agency and our mission is important and we will do what we need to do to take care of our District. We will be transparent, we will hold ourselves and each other accountable
Sorting out who wants to work at OUC
The employees of this agency need to remember why we are here.we are 911 and 311. We are here to serve the District and make money for our families right? Lets just focus on that.
A new person, shes not new to the District but new to our agency said I have never seen so many people so interested in not working and just using their day to visit or spread gossip. That was embarrassing. I want us all to be successful each one of us. When things turn around, and we sort out who wants to work here and who doesnt, maybe we can start looking at more development opportunities so that people can advance and get the necessary skills to do something other than the job they have right now. I am looking forward to that time
The world is still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and now another highly infectious virus is on a surge. Norovirus, which is also known as the vomiting bug, is highly infectious. Cases of norovirus have recently been recently increasing across England, Public Health England (PHE) said.
The British government today lifted pandemic restrictions on daily life in England, scrapping all social distancing in a step slammed by scientists and opposition parties as a dangerous leap into the unknown.
What is Norovirus?
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. Anyone can get infected and sick with norovirus.
Similarities between coronavirus and Norovirus
Norovirus symptoms
The most common symptoms are - Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Nausea and Stomach pain.
How does Norovirus spread?
The virus spreads very easily and quickly
Precautions to be taken
Subscribe to Mint Newsletters
* Enter a valid email
* Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.
Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!
Rick Gatteau, vice president for Student Affairs, and Marisa Bisiani, assistant vice president for Student Health, Wellness and Prevention Services, have issued a message to Stony Brook University students regarding the requirement for all resident students to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
From the onset of the pandemic, the safety of our campus community has been our top priority, the statement read. In support of Stony Brook Universitys commitment to health and safety, we are requiring all resident students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This health policy update means that, with limited exceptions, all students planning to live on campus as a residential student in the Fall 2021 semester must be fully vaccinated.
The statement includes information for partially vaccinated students and international students as well as details regarding medical and religious exemptions. It also includes guidelines for students living on campus who are approved for an exemption of the vaccination requirement.
Read the complete message at the Student Affairs website.
