Not Vaccinated Yet? Do Your Part to Stop the Spread
Nearly 65 percent of all Duke employees, and 50 percent of students are fully vaccinated
Duke staff, faculty and students who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccination can still receive their doses for free at Duke vaccination clinics.
The site at Blue Devil Tower will continue through May 18, and on May 19, employees and students can receive the vaccine at the Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center until further notice. A vaccination site at Duke Raleigh Hospital will continue to be open indefinitely to the Duke community.
“The vaccine is our only way to return to more normal activity,” said Dr. Carol Epling, director of Duke Employee Occupational Health & Wellness (EOHW). “Getting vaccinated is how we move forward as a global community to stop the spread. You are protecting your health and helping others.”
Nearly 70 percent of all Duke University and Duke University Health System staff and faculty – about 32,400 employees – are partially vaccinated; 65 percent of all employees are fully vaccinated.
“I want to recognize the amazing teamwork across so many Duke units that have allowed us, as a community, to move forward with providing the vaccine to all Duke staff, faculty and students who continue to do their part to stop the spread of infection by following the proven public health measures,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Administration.
Roughly 50 percent of undergraduate and graduate students– about 7,700 students – are fully vaccinated.
“We have already seen the immensely positive impact that student vaccine uptake has had on minimizing COVID on campus, and we strongly believe that these ongoing efforts are what will allow our students to resume the full scope of their academic pursuits and Duke experience as quickly as possible,” said John Vaughn, director of Duke Student Health.
With at least 12,651 COVID-19-related deaths in North Carolina as of Monday and a steady trend of nearly 1,101 people remaining hospitalized in the state, Duke community members should continue to do their part to keep themselves and others safe.
Duke University has updated its masking requirements to be consistent with public health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State of North Carolina.
Duke University will not require students, employees or visitors to wear masks or face coverings while outdoors, with the exception of crowded areas and gatherings where social distancing is not possible. Masks or face coverings are still required inside Duke University-owned or leased buildings and while riding a Duke bus or shuttle.
Epling noted that while not common, fully vaccinated members of the Duke community have tested positive for COVID-19 in situations involving close and sustained contact indoors without a mask. Because of these situations, she emphasized the need to continue with public health measures such as masking, distancing and handwashing.
“It’s encouraging that you can return to more activities safely when you are vaccinated,” Epling said. “But until more people get vaccinated, we must continue to be careful. Don’t let your guard down.”
Staff and faculty who have been vaccinated outside of a Duke employee vaccination clinic should let Duke Employee Occupational Health & Wellness know they received the vaccination by submitting their documentation here. Duke employee vaccination clinics include Blue Devil Tower (through May 18) and Duke Raleigh Hospital Medical Office Building 9. After May 18, the Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center will be included among the clinics where staff and faculty would not need to submit documentation.
Reporting vaccination documentation will help in contact tracing efforts. In addition, staff and faculty traveling on Duke business must report that they are fully vaccinated. How to send documentation:
- For faculty and staff, upload a picture of their completed vaccination card through the confidential Duke VAXTrax online form.
- For students, email a photo of your vaccination card to Student Health at covidlabresults@duke.edu after your vaccine series is completed.
“It’s so helpful to know if you have been vaccinated, so we know how vulnerable you are should you come into contact with someone who has COVID-19 symptoms,” Epling said. “We want you to be safe.”
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