TO:

Faculty, Staff, and Students

FROM:

Jere W. Morehead, President

S. Jack Hu, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Michelle A. Nuss, AU/UGA Medical Partnership Campus Dean

Jennifer Swails, Interim Director for University Health Center

We want to express our thanks and appreciation to the UGA faculty, staff, and students who have persevered during the COVID-19 pandemic and continued to advance the important missions of our great institution. We are particularly thankful to the many faculty, staff, and students who have chosen to get vaccinated to not only protect themselves and their families but the entire University community. To fully protect our campus community, however, we need for everyone who can get vaccinated to do so.

Data demonstrates that the vaccines are preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death and are effective against the Delta variant. In fact, as many public health officials have noted, those individuals who are hospitalized with COVID-19 or who die from the virus are almost exclusively unvaccinated individuals. Vaccination is the best way to protect you, your family, and our University community.

If you decide not to get vaccinated, you have a significant risk of contracting COVID-19. The consequences of that choice can be significant for you and those around you. We urge you to contemplate this matter very carefully, consult with appropriate medical personnel, and make an informed and thoughtful decision. The University Health Center stands ready to assist you in that process.

Like you, we are looking forward to the start of the new academic year at UGA. With every member of our campus community who gets vaccinated, we increase our strength against COVID-19, and we increase our chances for a normal and successful experience for all.

Thank you for your consideration in this most serious and important matter.

We Urge You to Get Vaccinated