Life
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) recently sent out an update on vaccine eligibility for graduate students. Graduate student employees qualify as part of the current Phase 1B rollout. Therefore, if UCSB is paying you — generally determined by whether you receive your paycheck through UCPath — then you are right now eligible to receive the vaccine in Santa Barbara County. Read on to learn more!
Read on for an important update from the Graduate Student Association (GSA) Executive Board.
Dear UC Santa Barbara Graduate Student Community,
You may have heard that UCSB will no longer be a distributor for the Covid-19 vaccine. This resolution results from a statewide decision that vaccine rollout will be solely in the hands of Blue Shield of California. You might be asking what this means for you as a graduate student wishing to receive the vaccine. Here are some FAQs.
When, where, and how can I receive the vaccine?
+ Phase 1B rollout is in full swing, including vaccinating individuals who work at all levels of education. Therefore, if UCSB is paying you - generally determined by whether you receive your paycheck through UCPath - then you are right now eligible to receive the vaccine in Santa Barbara County. Those levels include any graduate student who is a Teaching Assistant or Teaching Associate; any GSR who gets a paycheck through UCPath; any course reader; and any other graduate student working for UCSB and receiving payments through UCPath. It also includes undergraduate students who work for UCSB and receive a paycheck.
+ There are many places to look for vaccines: My Turn - California COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling & Notifications, Cottage 1, and Cottage 2.
+ The vaccine is free, regardless of whether you have insurance. You are still requested to bring your insurance card, which, if you have UCSHIP, is found on the Student Health App or your computer.
+ If you are not currently residing in Santa Barbara, check your county's public health website; the county's rollout determines your eligibility.
How will things change once I receive my vaccine?
+ If you are fully vaccinated (two weeks after your final dose), please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to see which changes you can safely implement in your life.
I am eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, but I do not want to take the spot of someone who is more at risk than I am. What should I do?
+ Doctors and medical ethicists are unequivocal that when it is your turn, you should get the vaccine. It helps no one to reject the vaccine when it is your turn since you cannot guarantee that your dose will be given to someone at a more high risk than you.
I am worried that the Covid-19 vaccine is not as safe or effective as initial tests showed. Is it smart to wait and see?
+ The medical community consensus is that the Covid-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are safe and effective.
In the meantime, we recommend that you continue to get your bi-weekly Covid-19 asymptomatic tests from UCSB Student Health. You can book an appointment on the student health portal.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions about how Covid-19 or how UCSB protects its students.
Kind regards,
The GSA Executive Board.