In support of government and public health COVID-19 vaccination efforts, the University of Oregon is planning to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to members of the UO community, when vaccine becomes available. To prepare, the university has launched a vaccine preregistration system for faculty and staff.

Although it remains unclear when COVID-19 vaccinations may available to faculty members, staff and students, preparing to help administer them in an organized and efficient manner is a top priority, said André Le Duc, chief resilience officer, in a recent message to faculty and staff.

“The pre-registration process is key to our vaccination preparation and planning, and will help inform the sequencing of vaccinations,” Le Duc wrote. “While we do not know when vaccine will be available for our UO community, this is an important first step in our organized approach.”

Faculty members, staff, graduate employees and student employees who are interested receiving a vaccine through the UO’s process should complete the preregistration form as soon as possible. The simple questionnaire asks employees for their contact information and current UO employment and work mode: in-person, remote or hybrid. Only employees who submit a preregistration form will be contacted when it is time to schedule a vaccination.

Le Duc warns that there may be significant lag time between the launch of the preregistration system and availability and administration of vaccine. Getting vaccinated through a public health clinic at the university is only one option for faculty members and staff to consider. Employees may, at any time, consult their health care provider or pharmacy of choice to discuss their vaccine options or participate in other public health vaccine clinics, which may be a faster option to receive a COVID-19 shot for people who fall into higher-priority groups.

Vaccines at the UO will be distributed in partnership with Lane County Public Health and based on health authority guidance and vaccine supply.

“A critical fact to remember throughout the distribution process is the UO does not determine which individuals get vaccinated and in what order,” Le Duc wrote. “The federal- and state-level public health agencies and officials are responsible for determining the phases of the vaccine rollout, which specify who gets vaccinated and when.”

The university continues to work closely with the Oregon Health Authority and other state officials about how the UO community, faculty members, staff and students fit into public health vaccine distribution. The countywide vaccination roll out is evolving rapidly, and the university will share information as it becomes available.

More detailed information about the vaccine preregistration and distribution process can be found on the vaccine webpage on the university’s coronavirus information website.