Vaccine update

We are excited by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ recent announcement that the state of Iowa soon will be allocating COVID-19 vaccine doses to the University of Iowa to support the vaccination of college students and employees before the end of the semester.

While vaccine supplies are expected to increase, doses may be limited for the first few weeks, so we continue ask for your patience. The good news is there is strong interest in the vaccine, which will benefit our community as a whole.

Students will continue to be vaccinated through UI Student Health. Please do not call Student Health to schedule an appointment at this time. More information will be shared Friday, April 2.

Faculty and staff will be vaccinated through the University Employee Health Clinic located within UI Hospitals & Clinics using the ReadySet employee health record, much like the annual employee flu vaccination campaign. The COVID-19 immunization survey will open on Friday, April 2, and you may begin registering for the vaccine at that time.

In the meantime, you may still consider the following options until the university’s supply increases:

• Use the state’s vaccine finder to search for available vaccine appointments. If assistance is needed via phone, you can call 211. To find a vaccine location and availability, use https://vaccinefinder.org/. It is important to remember that individuals are required to receive their first and second dose from the same provider.
• Register your interest with UI Health Care once you are eligible by completing a form in MyChart. This does not confirm a vaccination appointment, but signals your desire to be vaccinated once you are eligible and doses are available. When you are eligible and an appointment is available, you will be contacted directly by UI Health Care staff through the electronic health record system, MyChart, or by phone. If you can be vaccinated elsewhere before you are contacted by UI Health Care, you are encouraged to do so in order to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

For additional information, see the UI’s COVID-19 vaccine information page.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II) application closes today

The University of Iowa has received additional funds through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to distribute to students with exceptional financial need who are enrolled during the spring 2021 semester. The HEERF II Grant application in MyUI closes today (March 31). Information about eligibility and how to apply is available through the Office of Student Financial Aid. Applying does not guarantee funds will be approved.

Reminder: Upcoming mental health presentation series

Coping in the time of COVID-19 continues to be an uncharted, life-changing task for everyone, and it can make caring for your own mental health and the mental health of those around you a challenge.

Join or re-watch one of these upcoming mental health panel discussions to identify ways you can continue caring for yourself and others.

The Unseen Impacts of the Pandemic: What do I do with all my losses and disappointments?

• Thursday, April 1, 1 to 2 p.m. CST
• Led by Linda Stewart Kroon, director of the Women’s Resource and Action Center, and Katryn Duarte, assistant director of sexual assault services at the Rape Victim Advocacy Program

Is everything I feel my fault? Feeling depressed and anxious when it actually may be sadness and stress

• Thursday, April 8, 1 to 2 p.m. CST
• Led by Stacey McElroy-Heltzel, assistant professor of psychological and quantitative foundations

To access the presentations and subsequent recordings, visit mentalhealth.uiowa.edu/presentation-series.

For more information about mental health resources, see mentalhealth.uiowa.edu.

For counseling and support, the Employee Assistance Program offers confidential counseling at no cost for UI employees and their families; or University Counseling Service offers confidential counseling and support for students. Participate in Kognito Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Training.

Campus operations

The university continues to monitor self-reported COVID-19 testing data on campus, while also tracking state, region, and national COVID-19 infection rates.

University of Iowa self-reported COVID-19 testing

These data reflect new cases since March 29, 2021.

The University of Iowa has published an updated snapshot of self-reported positive COVID-19 tests from faculty, staff, and students.

Number of self-reported cases of COVID-19

Students

• New cases: 13
• Total cases: 3,093

Employees

• New cases: 5
• Total cases: 467

These numbers reflect only self-reported positive or presumed positive COVID-19 tests from UI faculty, staff, and students on the academic campus since Aug. 18, 2020. These data will not match data reported by UI Hospitals & Clinics or by the Iowa Department of Public Health for several reasons, including different testing time intervals and geographic scope. Students who also are employees of the university are only reported in the student number to avoid double counting. The UI has more than 30,000 students and nearly 30,000 employees. Many employees continue to work remotely but have self-reported to authorize sick leave.

Number of residence hall students in quarantine: 0*

Number of residence hall students in self-isolation: 3**

*Quarantine: Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others.

**Self-isolation: Isolation is used to separate people infected.