COVID update: Vaccine and Q-Week update

To the members of the MIT community,

We write to provide an update on several topics regarding COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and how we can continue to stay safe during this phase of the pandemic.

Completion of Quarantine Week (Q-Week)

Two weeks ago, some 2,200 of our undergraduates returned to campus, with most tested for COVID-19 three times: before travel, using kits that we mailed to returning students; upon arrival; and after a week of quarantine. In all, just four students tested positive during these three rounds of testing — three prior to arrival, and one upon arrival. Each of these students is doing well, and MIT Medical and the Division of Student Life are providing support as needed. While positive tests are always distressing, they also serve as affirmation that our testing regimen continues to catch positive cases early.

We have now completed Q-Week, following a brief extension to allow for full compliance with our testing requirements for returning undergraduates. We took this step as a precaution to protect public health, and our students responded effectively.

Do your part to help MIT plan ahead

We’ve finished building our vaccination clinic in the Johnson Athletic Center, and are ready to spring into action once the Commonwealth of Massachusetts resumes shipping vaccine to MIT. However, we need your help to prepare: Please visit covidvaccine.mit.edu and let us know your current intentions on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Please fill out the form even if you have already been vaccinated, don’t intend to be vaccinated, or plan to get vaccinated somewhere else — and update the form if your vaccination status changes. This information is essential for planning, ordering, and staffing for large-scale vaccination efforts on campus — and also as we start to plan for the fall semester. We ask everyone to take a few moments to fill out the online questionnaire, sharing the information we will need to plan for the months ahead.

Where things stand now with vaccine

As we recently shared, the Commonwealth is currently focusing its vaccine distribution efforts on mass vaccination sites, retail drugstores, and certain other types of facilities. For this reason, we do not anticipate that MIT will be distributing new immunizations in the coming weeks, and perhaps not until we enter the Commonwealth’s Phase 3, which is now expected to begin in April. For now, we will only have enough vaccine to complete immunizations for those who have already received a first dose from MIT Medical.

However, it is vital that each of us who is eligible gets immunized quickly. Until MIT can resume vaccinations, anyone in Massachusetts who is eligible should use the state website to arrange to get vaccinated. If you can’t get an appointment at first, please be patient: It will take a number of weeks to immunize each group of eligible people. Check the website daily, and if you see an open appointment, sign up.

The world looks to MIT as a scientific leader and as a role model. As our community follows the science and gets vaccinated, we not only keep each other healthy; we also inspire others to follow suit.

Staying safe as we wait for our turn to be vaccinated

For now, we need to remain vigilant. Although more people are getting vaccinated every day, COVID-19 is still widespread and still a potentially lethal risk to the community — particularly with more contagious variants now circulating in Massachusetts. As we’ve been doing for nearly a year, MIT continues to closely monitor the situation on campus so we can avoid further restrictions in our operations.

But our success will depend upon all of us. Even for some time after vaccination, we will need to stay within our pods and household bubbles, avoid eating and drinking with others, keep at least six feet of distance, and stay masked. And remember: Masks must be well-fitting and worn properly (never below your nose) to be effective. We recommend that everyone review MIT Medical’s recently published information about double-masking and other mask-related topics.

As we move closer to the end of the pandemic, MIT is working to determine when and how we might be able to welcome more people back to campus. For now, please continue to do your part by staying safe, signing up for your vaccine as soon as you are eligible, and remaining alert for updates from MIT.

Cecilia Stuopis, MD
Medical Director
MIT Medical

Ian A. Waitz
Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education
Chair, MIT Vaccine Planning Team