December 30, 2020: Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Dear colleagues,  

Vaccinations continue today, December 30. The focus still remains on vaccinating individuals delivering direct patient care and all care team members and staff supporting them in person. We will keep everyone updated as more groups are added. Vaccines will be administered on a limited schedule tomorrow, from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and will resume on Saturday.  

As of this morning, over 20,000 staff at NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell, and Columbia have been vaccinated. This includes nearly more than 7,000 individuals on the Columbia Campus who are working in patient care areas, with over 3,100 of them Columbia employees.   

For those already vaccinated, second dose reminders will be sent via Connect. If you have not yet signed up for Connect, please do so, at: https://www.myconnectnyc.org/mychart/accesscheck.asp 

Please stay tuned for instructions on where to return for your second dose. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Even though you can find the latest FAQ documents on the CUIMC COVID Vaccine Information page we are also going to highlight key Question(s) of the Day to keep you informed. Some of the most common questions are about allergies and vaccines:   

I have a shellfish allergy. Is this a contraindication to vaccination? Aside from the 15 minute wait for monitoring after getting the vaccine, are epi pens available in case they are needed?  

Anaphylaxis to shellfish is not considered a contraindication to vaccination. However, past history of anaphylaxis to anything, must be indicated on the Employee Screening Questionnaire for COVID Vaccine when registering for vaccination. The employee will also need to be observed for 30 minutes. Each of the vaccine administration sites has personnel and medications to care for anaphylactic and other allergic reactions.   

Is there any issue with a person who has allergies, for example, to latex, dust, and penicillin, but no food allergies, getting vaccinated? 

People with allergies can be vaccinated, but please be sure to discuss your allergies when you go to get vaccinated. It is important to let the vaccination team know if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction/anaphylaxis. 

Thank you!

Magda Sobieszczyk, MD, MPH  
Chief of Infectious Diseases and Co-Chair of the CUIMC COVID-19 Vaccine Committee   

Melissa Stockwell, MD, MPH   
Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Health and Co-Chair of the CUIMC COVID-19 Vaccine Committee