Dear UMB Community,

We are fortunate to be able to start this year with a COVID-19 vaccine and that priority groups have begun to be vaccinated. Priority is given to individuals with the highest need for vaccination.

Over the past couple weeks, in coordination with the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) reached out to those in the first tier of priority with an information-gathering form to help prioritize and schedule vaccinations. The link was meant for specific individuals only, mostly those whose duties have a medical nexus.

To comply with the equitable allocation of the vaccine:

• If you received a registration link from a source other than an authorized University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) or UMB email, please do not register for vaccination at this time.
• If you were forwarded the link or received it from a second- or third-hand source and registered for a vaccination at the SMC Campus Center and were given an appointment, that was done in error. Please DO NOT show up for your assigned time. There will soon be a UMB registration process that you will be able to access at the appropriate time.
• If you signed up and are not a member of a priority group, please email Juliet Dickerson in Human Resource Services at VaccineRegistration@umaryland.edu to let her know that you will not be getting your vaccine at this time.
• If you registered but are not sure whether you are authorized to have a vaccine during this phase, please contact Juliet Dickerson.

We understand that many people who signed up for the vaccine prior to their turn thought they were following the appropriate procedures.

As you undoubtedly know, priority for vaccinations is based on guidance from the Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine, developed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and the Ethical Principles for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The distribution of vaccines is on a prescribed order per federal and state guidelines. Accountability is one of our core values at UMB, and as a community of leaders, we must model ethical and equitable behavior. 

UMMS is currently authorized by the Maryland Department of Health to distribute vaccines. UMB is providing the SMC Campus Center as the location for the distribution and is assisting with UMMS’ distribution process through UMMC.

Maryland is currently in Phase 1A for COVID-19 vaccinations. The vast majority of the UMB community will receive vaccines in later phases, though many of the health care workers and first responders at UMB may fall within earlier phases. We hope to be able to provide vaccines to UMB employees in the future, but at this point we cannot make that promise or have a time frame to announce. 

I will communicate with you again by the end of the week with a further update on the vaccination registration process.

UMB is proud to support UMMC’s vaccination mission at our Campus Center, and we appreciate our employees and students who are bolstering that effort. Please reach out to Juliet Dickerson if you have additional questions. 

Sincerely, 

Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS

President