COVID-19 Task Force Co-Chairs Give Update on Vaccine Rollout

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Those who have been vaccinated should continue to take precautions.

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In a community update today, Dartmouth’s COVID-19 Task Force co-chairs addressed the vaccine rollout process in New Hampshire and Vermont and reminded those who have been vaccinated to maintain COVID-19 precautions.

“Like many of you, we are hopeful and excited about the ongoing rollout of COVID-19 vaccines across the country,” wrote Task Force Co-Chairs Lisa Adams, a physician and a professor of medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine, and Josh Keniston, vice president of campus services and institutional projects. “We have received a number of messages regarding the availability and distribution of vaccines here in the Upper Valley, and we wanted to update everyone on what we know at this point.”

In New Hampshire, vaccination for COVID-19 is managed through the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, which determines priorities for vaccination and the distribution of vaccines. Information about the vaccine rollout and updates about local vaccination efforts are available through the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the Vaccine Phase check tool.

Students and employees who live in Vermont can find information about that state’s vaccine rollout plan through the Vermont Department of Health.

For students, faculty, and staff who have not already received a vaccine, Dartmouth is eager to support opportunities for them to do so as soon as possible, wrote Adams and Keniston.

Dartmouth is “actively tracking vaccine developments and preparing to help distribute and administer vaccines if and when we are asked or permitted to do so,” they wrote. “As we learn more in the coming weeks, we will share updates through the Community Conversations webcast, community emails, and social media.”

Those who have had COVID-19 or have completed the vaccination process should continue to take precautions, such as wearing face coverings, handwashing, physical distancing, and avoiding travel and gatherings, the co-chairs wrote.

In accordance with state and federal guidance, anyone who is within 90 days of a COVID-19 infection diagnosed by PCR or antigen testing is exempt from surveillance testing. Dartmouth Health Service will confirm for students when they need to resume surveillance testing; Axiom Medical will do so for employees.

For the latest information on Dartmouth’s response to the pandemic visit the COVID-19 website.

Aimee Minbiole can be reached at aimee.minbiole@dartmouth.edu.

Aimee Minbiole