West Virginia University will begin receiving the first wave of COVID-19 vaccine doses designated for higher education employees starting December 27 and will distribute the doses based on state guidelines developed by the West Virginia Joint Interagency Task Force. Based on those recommendations, age is the primary determinant of risk for contracting and dying from the COVID-19 virus.
“We know that in West Virginia the oldest residents are the ones most likely to die from COVID-19,” said Dr. Clay Marsh, West Virginia’s coronavirus czar and vice president and executive dean of WVU Health Sciences. “In fact, those over the age of 60 who are infected with the virus account for 92 percent of West Virginians dying of COVID-19, and those aged 65 to 74 have a risk of being hospitalized that is five times higher than the adult age group of 18-29.”
As part of Phase 1-D, higher education employees that are over the age of 65 will receive priority for this first wave of vaccines, followed by those aged 50 and older.
Employees who meet these guidelines were recently queried via an email questionnaire and responses were compiled to determine the order of distribution. Those who indicated interest and availability will be receiving notification from the state’s “vaccine portal” called VAMS (Vaccine Administration Management System) that is used for inventory tracking and vaccine delivery. The email will come from vams@cdc.gov.
WVU’s allotment of the vaccine will be delivered in weekly installments. Each installment must be used in its entirety during the week it is delivered or the remaining doses must be returned and the next installment will be decreased. This determination was made in order to not to waste a single dose. For this reason, once you receive notification of vaccine eligibility it is essential to quickly register and schedule.
This is the first in a series of vaccine rollouts anticipated in the coming months. If you meet the State’s requirements but did not respond to the first questionnaire, it does not mean that you will not be eligible in the future. A second questionnaire will be sent out today, Dec. 23, to all WVU employees who are aged 50 and older to identify interest and availability for the second wave of vaccines. The deadline to respond to this questionnaire is Dec. 29.
“I am appreciative of the leadership of Gov. Jim Justice for helping to secure vaccine doses for the higher education community,” President Gordon Gee said. “We are grateful for the ability to help protect our employees and offer them the opportunity to voluntarily receive these lifesaving vaccines.”
Updates and additional information will be provided as each new phase and rollout is announced including details on priority recipients and other criteria based on guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and WVU and other health experts. The University will ensure that every person who wants a vaccine is able to get one as quickly as they are available, and in accordance with the guidance from the State.
Find FAQ and additional information at the Return to Campus website.
Email questions or concerns to covidvaccine@mail.wvu.edu.