This page was last updated on Jan. 4, 2021.

Campus Rollout Plan

On Dec. 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided emergency use authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer and BioNTech mRNA-based vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 – representing a major development in our global efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19.

UT  Southwestern’s Vaccine Science Review Committee has independently evaluated the clinical trial data and agrees with the FDA assessment of the vaccines’ safety and effectiveness.

Read the Pfizer scientific review
Read the Moderna scientific review

Initial Shipment

On Dec. 15, UT Southwestern received an initial shipment of 5,850 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and began vaccinations. Individuals who are vaccinated in the first phase will be given their second dose roughly three weeks later.

MyChart Registration Required

To receive the vaccine, you must be registered in MyChart. If you have never used MyChart before, we sent a registration link to your work email on Dec. 11. If you have an account, please log in and ensure your contact information and email preferences are up to date. The MyChart app is also available in the App Store or Google Play.

How do I know when it’s my turn to receive the vaccine?

You will be notified through MyChart when you are eligible to schedule your first of two vaccination appointments. Once it is time to schedule your second dose, you will receive another MyChart message.

Distribution Phase 1A

Below is UT Southwestern’s first phase of distribution, which aligns with federal and state guidance and was developed with equity, safety, and efficiency as our core principles.

Phase 1A.1 – Direct Patient Care with Highest Risk 

COVID-19 Care Units

• Faculty, staff, house staff, and students who are providing direct patient care in the COVID-19 unit at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital or at a UT Southwestern affiliate
• Staff working as screeners, admission personnel, pharmacists, transporters or in Environmental Services, Nutrition Services, etc. who have direct patient contact and whose primary work location supports the COVID-19 care unit at Clements University Hospital

Emergency Department

• Patient care in the Emergency Department at Clements University Hospital or at a UT Southwestern affiliate
• Staff working as screeners, admission personnel, pharmacists, transporters or in Environmental Services, Nutrition Services, etc. who have direct patient contact and whose primary work location supports the Emergency Department at Clements University Hospital

Labor and Delivery

Faculty, staff, house staff, and students who are providing direct patient care in Labor and Delivery at Clements University Hospital or at a UT Southwestern affiliate.

Sample Collection and Testing Staff

COVID-19 sample collection and testing staff with direct patient care.

Vaccination Staff

COVID-19 vaccination staff with direct patient care.

Phase 1A.2 – COVID-19 Lab Staff, Respiratory Therapists, Anesthesia, and COVID-19 Clinical Research 

Lab Staff

Laboratory staff directly involved in COVID-19 testing

Respiratory Therapists

Respiratory therapists providing direct patient care at Clements University Hospital or Zale Lipshy Pavilion

Anesthesia

Anesthesia faculty, staff, house staff, and students providing direct patient care at our hospitals or if employed by UTSW at a UT Southwestern affiliate

Clinical Research

Clinical research personnel directly interacting with COVID-19 subjects

Phase 1A.3 – Point-of-entry, Hospital Direct Patient Care, Outpatient with High Risk, Nutrition, Home Health 

Point-of-entry screeners

Screeners at designated entrances of clinical buildings

Hospital Direct Patient Care and Outpatient with High Risk

Faculty, staff, house staff, and students involved in direct patient care in our hospitals, including the Outpatient Surgical Center, and those in other high-risk outpatient procedure areas such as dental and otolaryngology clinics who were not vaccinated in previous phases.

Nutrition Services

Nutrition Services employees who did not have access to the vaccine in previous phases.

Home Health

Home health staff involved in direct patient care

Phase 1A.4 – Additional Outpatient, Lab Specimen Testing and Reporting, COVID-19 Research 

Additional Outpatient

Faculty, staff, house staff, and students providing direct patient care in an outpatient non-procedural location who cannot work from home and were not vaccinated in the previous phases.

Lab Specimen Testing and Reporting

Laboratory employees directly involved in specimen testing and reporting

COVID-19 Research

Research faculty, staff, trainees, and students whose projects directly involve and/or impact COVID-19.

Phase 1A.5 – Other Clinical Staff and Administration  

Other Clinical Staff

Staff at our hospitals and clinics who are not able to work from home

Administration

Employees in administration

Phase 1A.6 – All Other Employees and Learners 

All Other Faculty, Staff, House Staff, and Learners

All faculty, staff, house staff, and learners who did not have access to the vaccine in the previous phases

Distribution Phase 1B

This phase of distribution allows us to efficiently reach highest risk segments of our population.

Phase 1B – Population with Highest Risk 

At Least One Comorbid Condition

People 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19, such as but not limited to:

• Cancer
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Immunocompromised State from Solid Organ Transplant
• Obesity (BMI≥ 30)
• Pregnancy
• Serious Heart Conditions ( e.g., heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies)
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Age 65 or Older

People 65 years of age and older

UT Southwestern will provide further guidance for later stages of 1B vaccine distribution as additional information becomes available.

Distribution Phase 2

UT Southwestern’s second phase of distribution will reach out to all other patients who did not have access in the previous vaccine phases. We will provide more updates on Phase 2 as additional information becomes available.

How Fast is the Rollout and Who’s Next to Receive it?

We are currently vaccinating 1A.1-1B. Our progress through the additional phases will be based on future shipments of the vaccine. Guidance for our patients and our community will be provided in future communications.

PPE Requirements Continue

Following vaccination, it is critical that we continue to wear masks, maintain social distancing, and practice other non-pharmacological interventions. At this point, it is unclear whether those who are vaccinated could still spread the virus to others. All PPE requirements will continue to remain in effect on campus. 

Consider the Benefits of Vaccination

We strongly encourage you to consider the benefits of vaccination, regardless of whether you have had COVID-19. Please know that the decision to vaccinate is personal and not required by UT Southwestern. Should you choose to decline the vaccination, you may do so through MyChart.

Questions?

We continue to receive questions from across our UT Southwestern community and will expand our vaccine FAQs as answers become available. You may also access:

• An archive of vaccine-related campus communications
• Vaccine FAQs for Patients
• Our MedBlog on COVID-19 vaccines: 21 key questions answered by a frontline doctor

Please check back often for updates. Employees can covid-19questions@utsouthwestern.edu the COVID box with additional questions as they arise.

Vaccine FAQs Vaccine Medblog