New York Institute of Technology - Brian Harper

Dear New York Tech Faculty and Staff,

On January 8, 2021, Governor Cuomo announced that members of Group 1b are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Category 1b includes education workers, first responders, public safety workers, public transit workers, and people 75 and older (the age group of those eligible to receive the vaccine was just updated and now includes people over 65). Initially, “education workers” referred to teachers and staff/administrators of grades P-12. Effective January 11, 2021, the list of populations eligible to be vaccinated now includes “in-person college instructors.” Please see the list of populations eligible to be vaccinated in New York State.

Although our health centers have applied to receive the vaccine, none has been received yet. We encourage those able to receive vaccinations to do so at alternative sites. Here are options:

Faculty Teaching In Person: Faculty teaching in person should complete this screening form. If you are in New York City, you should use this separate scheduling tool. Individuals being vaccinated must bring proof of eligibility to their vaccination site. This may include an employee ID card, a letter from an employer or affiliated organization, or a pay stub, depending on the specific priority status. Please realize that while faculty are now eligible to make a reservation for vaccination, current demand for vaccines still far outpaces the state’s supply.

Staff: We have received questions about staff who directly work with students regarding their eligibility to receive the vaccine. Please recognize there are many staff in this category. We are committed to following New York State guidelines and, at this time, staff are not on the 1b list. The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (cicu) is advocating on our behalf for staff to be included on the list, which is changing on a regular basis. As we get more information, we will share it with you.

AHCC Clinical Faculty/Staff and Year 3 & 4 Medical Students: In line with New York State guidelines on vaccination priority, all clinical faculty and staff who work at the Academic and Family Health Centers are eligible to receive the vaccine, including year 3 and 4 medical students. Those students who have volunteered to give vaccines will also be provided vaccinations.

Sincerely,

Brian L. Harper M.D., M.P.H.
Chief Medical Officer, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
Vice President, Equity & Inclusion