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Booster Shots, Return to Campus, and Spring Protocols for Students

The message is being sent to all Duke undergraduate students.

Friday, December 10, 2021Dear students, As fall term draws to an end, we want to provide some information and guidance as you depart for winter break to help us start the spring semester as successfully and safely as possible.

Booster Shots:

  • During winter break, you are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster if you have not done so already and are eligible based on the date of your last primary immunization dose (6 months after your second dose of Moderna/Pfizer, 2 months after single dose of Johnson & Johnson). Duke has not yet decided whether to require the booster shot and will continue assessing case trends and activity when students return.
  • If you get your COVID booster dose outside of Duke, go to the “Student Health Gateway” to upload your booster documentation.

Return to Campus:

  • If you are traveling internationally, pay close attention to testing requirements for re-entry into the United States. These requirements may change rapidly and with little notice. An up-to-date listing of worldwide travel restrictions and screening requirements is available in the COVID-19 section of Duke’s International SOS portal.
  • If you are traveling domestically, we strongly encourage you to get a COVID test within 72 hours before traveling back to campus for the spring semester.
  • If you test positive for COVID during winter break, notify Duke Student Health by emailing your test result to dshcheckin@duke.edu and isolate for 10 days before returning.
  • Upon your return to Durham, avoid large crowded indoor gatherings. We have seen that these types of gatherings, especialy right after many have traveled, lead to a high risk of COVID super-spreader events, even among those who are fully vaccinated.

Spring Semester Protocols:

  • Required COVID surveillance testing for asymptomatic students will resume on January 3 and continue until further notice.
  • If you develop possible COVID symptoms during the spring semester, notify Duke Student Health by registering your symptoms in the Duke SymMon app. A case management nurse will cal you to give you further guidance and schedule a COVID test for you at the Student Wellness Building.
  • A 10-day isolation period will remain in effect for anyone who tests postive for COVID, even if fully vaccinated. This is a State of North Carolina and Durham Public Health requirement.
  • Contact tracing will continue for those who test positive for COVID.

We hope everyone has a fantastic and restful winter break. Thank you for doing your part to help us start the spring semester as safely as possible. – Duke Student Affairs

Get Your Booster Shot Before Upcoming Holidays

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break with family and friends. Unfortunately, the pandemic did not take a break, and we find ourselves now confronted with news of the omicron variant that appears to now be spreading throughout other regions of the world.

While scientists are still studying and assessing the risks and potential impact of this variant, the best precaution you can take now is to get your booster shot before the upcoming holidays, when more travel and indoor gatherings are expected.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommend that all adults should receive the booster shot after six months of receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Duke has special clinics for faculty and staff, and we encourage you to do so at your earliest opportunity. Visit the Duke COVID Vaccine website to make an appointment or find a walk-in clinic.

The CDC also said that individuals can choose any of the three boosters now authorized regardless of their original shot. Duke medical experts suggest that anyone who received the J&J vaccine preferentially get a booster shot of either Pfizer or Moderna, which have been proven highly effective in preventing infection and severe illness. 

If you have already received your booster shot from an outside provider (any location, including Duke Health, not listed on the Duke COVID Vaccine website), please submit documentation of your additional dose through VaxTrax online form so we can update your records accordingly.

While the booster shot is not yet a condition of employment for Duke University or Duke University Health System at this time, we encourage all eligible individuals to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to protect you and others from potential infection during the winter months when people are expected to gather indoors more frequently. 

Thank you for your efforts to keep the Duke community safe during this new phase of the pandemic. Please continue wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently and maintaining social distance.  

Kyle Cavanaugh,
Vice President, Administration, Duke University

Carol Epling, MD, MSPH
Assistant Professor in Family Medicine and Community Health

Gail Shulby, RN, MA, CPP
Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President, Duke Health

Cameron R. Wolfe, MBBS (Hons), MPH, FIDSA
Associate Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Duke Health

Co-Leaders of the COVID-19 Vaccination Planning Work Group

Reminder: Schedule Your COVID-19 Booster Shot

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Currently, about 15,000 Duke faculty and staff have received their booster shot for the COVID-19 vaccine. As a reminder, you are eligible to receive a booster shot as long as you meet the time criteria since your last dose, which are described below:

  • Faculty and staff who have received their last dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over 6 months ago. 
  • Faculty and staff who have received their initial dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago and are 18 years of age or older.

Duke has already seen a recent uptick in positive cases in the last couple weeks, and we are seeing a rise in cases in Europe and in some northerns states. Getting a booster shot can help protect you, as well as your friends and family as we move into the holiday season when more people are expected to travel and gather in larger groups.

Employee vaccination clinics are located at Blue Devil Tower, Duke University Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital and Duke Regional Hospital by appointment (except at DRAH). Specifics about each clinic’s location and operating hours can be found on the Duke COVID Vaccine website. Appointments are being added regularly, so please check back later if you do not find an available appointment. 

Duke medical experts suggest that anyone who received the J&J vaccine preferentially get a booster shot of either Pfizer or Moderna, which have been proven highly effective in preventing infection and severe illness. A booster with the J&J vaccine also remains an alternative for these individuals. 

If you have already received your booster shot from an outside provider, please submit documention to Employee Occupational Health and Wellness using the VaxTrax online form.

While the booster shot is not a condition of employment for Duke University or Duke University Health System at this time, we encourage all eligible individuals to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to protect you and others from potential infection. 

Thank you for your efforts to keep the Duke community safe. Please continue wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently and maintaining social distance.

Kyle Cavanaugh,
Vice President, Administration, Duke University

Carol Epling, MD, MSPH
Assistant Professor in Family Medicine and Community Health

Gail Shulby, RN, MA, CPP
Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President, Duke Health

Cameron R. Wolfe, MBBS (Hons), MPH, FIDSA
Associate Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Duke Health

Co-Leaders of the COVID-19 Vaccination Planning Work Group

Easing Outdoor Masking Guidance

Nov. 2, 2021

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

We are writing today to update our guidance for outdoor masking given the lower prevalence of COVID-19 cases on campus and in our community. Individuals on campus no longer need to wear masks in outdoor congregate settings, including athletic events.

Individuals are encouraged to carry a mask to wear in the event social distancing cannot be effectively maintained in outdoor settings. Also, please respect anyone who chooses to continue wearing masks as a means to prevent exposure to themselves or loved ones.

Masks are still required indoors in all Duke owned and leased buildings, including in most areas of residence halls except a student’s assigned room. Masks are recommended—but not required—in semi-public residential spaces (commons rooms, laundry rooms). Masks are also required on all buses and at bus stops.

We have seen a significant decline in weekly cases on campus since a high of 364 cases in late August. During the last three weeks, our total weekly cases have been in the teens. This success is directly related to our vaccination rate and your diligence to practice prevention in your daily activities.

As we approach the holiday season, please continue to follow public health guidance to limit the potential for a spike in cases during indoor gatherings of friends and family. We also encourage everyone to get a booster shotonce you meet the eligibility criteria. Appointments can be made on the Duke COVID Vaccine website. Thank you for your commitment and perseverance throughout this pandemic.

Sally Kornbluth
Provost and Jo Rae Wright University Professor

Kyle Cavanaugh
Vice President for Administration

This message has been sent to all Duke University students, faculty and staff.

Booster Shots for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Vaccines

Dear Faculty and Staff,

The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are now approved for COVID booster shots for certain eligible populations (Pfizer vaccine was previously approved).

At this time the eligible populations include the following:

  • Those who have received their last dose of Moderna or Pfizervaccines over 6 months ago, are age 65 years and older, and are working in healthcare facilities or schools such as Duke, as well as other criteria defined by the CDC
  • Those who have received their initial dose of the Johnson & Johnsonvaccine at least two months ago and are 18 years of age or older.

The CDC also said that individuals can choose any of the three boosters now authorized regardless of their original shot. Duke medical experts suggest that anyone who received the J&J vaccine preferentially get a booster shot of either Pfizer or Moderna, which have been proven highly effective in preventing infection and severe illness.  A booster with the J&J vaccine remains an alternative for these individuals.

Those who wish to receive a booster shot will be able to schedule an appointment beginning Tuesday, Oct. 26. Employee clinics located at Blue Devil Tower, Duke University Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital and Duke Regional Hospital by appointment (except at DRAH). Specifics about each clinic’s location and operating hours can be found on the Duke COVID Vaccine website. Due to limited capacity, employees eligible for booster shots are also encouraged to explore community resources such as local pharmacies and provider practices.

While the booster shot is not a condition of employment for Duke University or Duke University Health System at this time, we encourage all eligible individuals to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to protect you and others from potential infection. 

Thank you for your efforts to keep the Duke community safe. Please continue wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently and maintaining social distance.

Kyle Cavanaugh,
Vice President, Administration, Duke University

Carol Epling, MD, MSPH
Assistant Professor in Family Medicine and Community Health

Gail Shulby, RN, MA, CPP
Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President, Duke Health

Cameron R. Wolfe, MBBS (Hons), MPH, FIDSA
Associate Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Duke Health

Co-Leaders of the COVID-19 Vaccination Planning Work Group

Health and Safety Protocols Announced for Home Basketball Events

Duke University Athletics has announced health and safety protocols for men’s and women’s basketball events at Cameron Indoor Stadium this season. The policy has been developed in consultation with medical experts at Duke as well as local and state officials.

New Guidance on COVID-19 for the Duke Community

August 30, 2021

Dear Students and Colleagues,

We are writing today with new information and guidance on COVID-19 and the Duke University community.

Duke’s comprehensive surveillance testing program has given us detailed insight into the pervasiveness of the Delta variant in the university community regardless of vaccination status. In the last week alone, 304 undergraduates, 45 graduate students and 15 employees tested positive for COVID-19 and are isolating. All but eight of these individuals were vaccinated, and the vast majority of them were, and continue to be, asymptomatic. A small number have minor, cold- and flu-like symptoms, and none have been hospitalized.

The good news is that we are able to identify these infections early and quickly, that our near-fully vaccinated student (98%) and employee (92%) populations are protected from serious illness, and that we continue to see no evidence of transmission in our classrooms and other campus locations where all individuals are masked.

Nonetheless, this surge is placing significant stress on the people, systems and facilities that are dedicated to protecting our health, safety and the ability of Duke to fulfill its educational mission, particularly our isolation space for on-campus students who test positive. We cannot stop COVID-19, but what we can do is adapt to our local and national realities and seek to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on campus.

As a result, the following new guidelines will be in effect starting Monday, August 30:

  • Masks will now be required on the Duke campus in all indoor and outdoor locations, unless you are exercising [outdoors] alone, eating or drinking, or otherwise not around others. After vaccinations, masks are the best way to prevent the spread of COVID. We have seen this on campus and in our health system.
  • Indoor group seating at Duke Dining facilities will be temporarily suspended. All Duke Dining facilities will transition to grab and go, and more than 25 tents have been erected across the campus to provide outdoor seating for meals and other gatherings.
  • Given the absences in some undergraduate classes due to increased number of students in isolation, faculty teaching undergraduate courses have the option to teach remotely for the next two weeks if they would prefer. This is not a requirement but an accommodation to allow for increased flexibility as needed; those who are able to continue teaching in person should certainly do so.
  • New limitations will be placed on student activities to reduce the possibility of COVID transmissions. Individuals and groups that violate these limitations will face disciplinary consequences. Further information will be provided directly to students.
  • The COVID-19 vaccination will now be required for ALL Duke faculty and staff as a condition of employment. Details will be provided directly to those employees who have not yet submitted proof of vaccination or an approved medical or religious exemption, as well as their deans or vice presidents. As of today, 92% of our 22,136 faculty and staff are fully vaccinated.

As a reminder, every faculty and staff member can participate in the Duke surveillance testing program at any time. It is free, convenient, and can offer peace of mind to those who are concerned about exposure. For more information see the Duke United website.

We want to be clear: the problem is not our people, the problem is COVID-19. Our Duke community has been extraordinarily united and resilient in fighting, and adapting to, this pandemic over the last 19 months. Your efforts have made it possible to fulfill our educational commitment to our students, to advance knowledge and discovery through our research, and to serve our region and society.

And yet, we must continue to do more. This is a time to be prudent, to take care of ourselves and each other so we can continue our important mission, which is now more important than ever.

Go Duke,

Sally Kornbluth,
Provost

Daniel Ennis,
Executive Vice President

Jennifer Francis,
Executive Vice Provost

Kyle Cavanaugh,
Vice President for Administration

Mary Pat McMahon,
Vice President/Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Gary Bennett,
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

This message has been sent to all Duke University students, faculty and staff.

COVID-19 Vaccination a Condition of Employment for University

NOTE: The vaccination policy and deadline for compliance for the School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Duke University Health System has not changed. The deadline remains 10 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2021.

TO:Vice Presidents, Vice Provosts, Deans, Directors, Department Heads, and Managers
FROM:Sally Kornbluth, Provost and Jo Rae Wright University Professor
Kyle Cavanaugh, Vice President, Administration 
RE:COVID-19 Vaccination a Condition of Employment for University

We are writing to advise you that Duke University will revise its COVID-19 vaccination policy to require all faculty and staff to have a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment.

All faculty and staff members, regardless of work location, must receive and show documentation of their completed COVID-19 vaccination by 10 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2021. This requirement is consistent with the policy already communicated by the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System. As of today, more than 91% of the 22,136 university employees are vaccinated.

Faculty and staff can visit the Status Check website to ensure their vaccination status has been recorded. Those who are vaccinated outside of a Duke Employee Vaccination Clinic can upload an image of their completed vaccination card through the confidential Duke VaxTrax system so that our records can be updated accordingly. Faculty and staff who need an appointment for vaccination can find various options on the Duke COVID Vaccine website.

University faculty and staff may still apply for a medical or religious exemption, but anyone approved for an exemption will be subject to daily symptom monitoring, weekly surveillance testing, continued masking and other protocols applicable to those who have not been vaccinated.In the coming week, deans and vice presidents will be provided a list of any unvaccinated faculty and staff within their areas to ensure they understand the new policy and implications regarding compliance. Updates will be provided as we approach the deadline for compliance.

Those who are not in compliance by Oct. 1, 2021, will be subject to the following:

  • Individuals will be issued a Final Written Warning and placed on administrative leave. Accrued vacation or discretionary holiday time may be used if available; otherwise, the leave will be unpaid.
  • They will have seven days to receive either the one-dose J&J vaccine, or the first dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, which has now been granted full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  • If an individual does not receive either the J&J or the first dose of Pfizer or Moderna within seven days after the Oct. 1 deadline, they will be terminated at the end of that seven-day period.
  • Those completing the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine will have up to six weeks to provide documentation that they received the required second dose. If the second dose is not administered within the six-week period, the individual will be terminated.

Those terminated for non-compliance would not be recommended for rehire with Duke in the future.

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious illness related to COVID-19, and it is only way we will bring an end to this pandemic. We are grateful to the thousands in our community who have already taken this step, and we want to take make every effort to support those who have not yet gotten vaccinated. Additional information and resources about the vaccines can found on the Duke COVID Vaccine website. Thank you.

Important Steps to Reduce the Spread of COVID

Dear Colleagues,

You have all seen the reports about the rapid surge of COVID cases locally and nationally as a result of the Delta variant. Duke has not been untouched by this – indeed, even with 91% of our employees and 95% of our students fully vaccinated, we have still recorded a notable increase in positive tests over the past week. Thus far, the vast majority of these positive tests have been among individuals who are fully vaccinated; the majority of those are asymptomatic, with others reporting minor cold- and flu-like symptoms.  

We know that many of you are concerned about transmission on campus, and we want to take this opportunity to provide some additional information and guidance. We cannot eliminate COVID, but we can take some important steps that have been demonstrated to reduce the spread of the virus and protect the community:

  • Wear a mask indoors. Masks are required inside all Duke buildings, and that includes classrooms. Masks are the single most effective way to limit transmission of COVID after vaccinations. Indeed, over the past year we have seen no demonstrated cases of COVID transmission in a classroom or lab when all individuals are masked.
  • To further minimize your general risk and protect others, wear a mask outdoors. Masks are strongly recommended outdoors when you are in a group, even a small group. It’s OK to go maskless when you are exercising or walking by yourself. But if you are with others, even co-workers and students, please wear a mask
  • Eat outdoors. Indoor group dining has been a major vector for virus transmission. We will be adding more tents across campus to accommodate larger numbers of students and employees who wish to eat together. We are also going to expand mobile ordering options at all our dining locations in the days ahead.

We believe that the on-campus, in-person educational experience is important for the educational and emotional well-being of our students.  Be assured that we are constantly monitoring the environment, particularly with respect to where and when COVID transmission appears to be occurring. Our uniformly high vaccination rates, robust surveillance testing, universal masking and the absence of any documented classroom transmission indicate that we can continue safely with our classroom and residential experience. Please know, though, that we are in close and regular contact with Duke infectious disease and public health experts and will take all necessary actions to protect the health and safety of our university community. 

Sincerely,

Sally Kornbluth
Provost and Jo Rae Wright University Professor

Kyle Cavanaugh
Vice President for Administration

This message is being sent to all Duke University faculty and staff

Third Dose Appointments for Immunocompromised Individuals

Dear Faculty and Staff:

On Monday, Duke Employee Occupational Health & Wellness will begin administering a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to individuals who meet the criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals.

Immunocompromised people do not always build the same level of immunity after vaccination as non-immunocompromised people, so they may benefit from an additional dose to ensure adequate protection against COVID-19 and are therefore being prioritized for additional dosing. 

Faculty and staff who have the following conditions who have been fully vaccinated for at least 28 days may schedule an appointment for a third dose at the Duke Employee Vaccination Clinic located at Blue Devil Tower:

  • Receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
  • Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection
  • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response.

Other risk factors for severe COVID-19 disease, such as age (65+), obesity, diabetes, or cardiopulmonary disease, are NOT included in the expansion of the vaccines’ Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) at this time.

We hope to receive approval to begin offering a booster dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) to health care workers beginning in late September. At that time, Duke health care workers who received the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 8 months previously will be eligible to receive the booster shot. More information will be shared once we receive authorization.

At this time, we do not have an anticipated date when booster shots will be available for other patients, employees and the general public, but we will communicate that information broadly when it is available. 

In the meanwhile, please continue to take every precaution to reduce the spread of infection. We have seen a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalized patients due to the high transmissibility of the Delta variant. Getting vaccinated is the best way to avoid potential severe illness related to COVID-19, and everyone should continue to wear masks indoors and in gatherings of people in close proximity.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep our community safe. If you have questions, you can contact us at stopcovid@duke.edu or visit the Duke COVID Vaccine website for more information. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Kyle Cavanaugh
Vice President, Administration, Duke University

Carol Epling, MD, MSPH
Assistant Professor in Family Medicine and Community Health

Gail Shulby, RN, MA, CPPS
Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President, Duke Health

Cameron R. Wolfe, MBBS (Hons), MPH, FIDSA
Associate Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Duke Health

Co-Leaders of the COVID-19 Vaccination Planning Work Group

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