Dean's Office Communication on COVID-19 - 2020-12-04

Dear MSUCOM students,

New coronavirus vaccines are anticipated to be distributed to health care institutions soon. This will be a welcome step in battling this devastating pandemic and protecting those most at risk.

As you may have read, access to the vaccines will be triaged based on guidelines from the CDC, with frontline health care workers being among the first to be vaccinated. We are in close contact with leadership at our network of hospitals, as well as officials within MSU, MSU HealthCare and the State of Michigan, to determine in which phase distribution to health professions students in Michigan can be expected.

I'm sure that all students, and especially our clerkship students, are eager to receive the vaccine to help protect you and your families. At present, we believe that our hospital partners in Michigan will be prioritizing their employees and medical staff members in the initial phases. Some may be making vaccine available to students based at their sites.

Information is evolving quickly, and we will update you as more information becomes available.

Andrea Amalfitano, DO, PhD
Dean, MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine

Dr. Susan Enright, DO FACOI                         
Assistant Dean for Clerkship Education

Kirsten Waarala, DO, FACOI, FAODME
Associate Dean for Medical Education