Dear Members of the Georgetown Community,
We’ve received many questions from members of our community about vaccine eligibility and availability in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. While vaccination eligibility is generally determined by your place of residence and your state’s vaccination distribution plan, we have created a website, which includes available information that will be updated regularly.
As we shared with you in a message on January 8, Georgetown University does not have its own supply or allotment of vaccines. In the District of Columbia, vaccines are being administered through providers authorized by the DC Department of Health.
We continue to coordinate closely with our partners at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) on vaccine planning and are engaged in regular conversations with the DC government about how we can be most helpful.
As you may know, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is our clinical partner and is an authorized provider of the vaccine. While many of its employees hold faculty appointments at Georgetown University Medical Center and the hospital hosts many of our medical and nursing students during their clinical training, MGUH is owned and operated by MedStar Health. MedStar Health has followed the priority order of vaccine distribution set by government agencies, which included prioritizing our physicians and clinical students who interact with their patients. MGUH does not have a separate allotment of vaccines for members of the Georgetown community.
We urge any member of the Georgetown community who is eligible to be vaccinated to take advantage of vaccination opportunities provided through your healthcare provider, or state or local government. Please note that each municipality may have different eligibility phases and requirements.
A group of colleagues who have expertise in public health, bioethics and operations is convening with and engaging stakeholders across the university as we consider the many issues related to the vaccine, including issues of equity and its impact on our community. We are working to develop an approach that enables Georgetown to assist the DC government in its mission to provide the vaccine to as many people as possible in the District, including our university community. In the event the DC government were to give an allotment of vaccines to universities to distribute to their employees, this group would provide feedback to University leaders on the appropriate approach. While we have no indication that this action will happen, we are laying the groundwork to be in the strongest possible position should an opportunity emerge. As this work continues, we strongly urge you to utilize any vaccination opportunity for which you may be eligible.
Thank you for flexibility, resilience and dedication to our community’s safety over the course of the pandemic. It is critical that Every Hoya Everywhere do their part to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Groves, Provost
Edward B. Healton, Executive Vice President of Health Sciences
William M. Treanor, Executive Vice President and Dean of the Law Center
Geoffrey S. Chatas, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer