Hello.
My name is Dr. Mitch Rosner and I’m the Chair of Medicine here at UVA.
We have reached a tremendous milestone in our community’s fight against COVID-19.
Vaccines are now widely available and every member of our community is now eligible for
a vaccine, and shots are being administered throughout the week.
These vaccines have been rigorously tested in clinical trials, and these trials and our
real-world experience has proven that these vaccines are safe
and highly effective at preventing COVID infections.
This is great news, and as more people are fully vaccinated,
the prevalence of the virus in our area will continue to decline.
This will be key in getting back to normal.
That’s why it’s critically important for all of you to make—
and keep—an appointment to be vaccinated.
If you haven’t yet had one, please do so as soon as possible
in order to protect yourself and the people around you.
If you have questions, please contact the COVID Vaccine Call Center at 434-297-4829.
We strongly urge all students to make an appointment and get their first doses as soon as possible,
and to make sure to follow up and get their second dose in the recommended time frame
in order to maximize the protection they get from the vaccine.
If it is possible for you to remain in Charlottesville or return for your second dose, please do so.
Please remember that we have not yet hit a critical point where masks, physical distancing,
and gathering limits are no longer necessary in order to avoid a surge in cases.
Several spikes around the country and the world, remind us that this virus is still a serious threat.
The sooner everyone gets vaccinated, the sooner we can begin to lift
these COVID-related restrictions— and get back to normal.
Thank you.