Author: COVID-19 NEWS
Location: North Carolina
Population of Focus: University employees and university health system employees
Outcome: In total, 93%-96% of university and health system employees received their primary vaccine series by end of November 2021 with the help of implementation of vaccine requirements
Story Shared by: Duke University
In August 2021, Duke University and Duke University Health System announced the implementation of requirements for the COVID-19 vaccine primary series for all 47,120 employees by October 1, 2021. The requirement covered all employees, regardless of whether they were fully remote, hybrid, or fully on site, and offered both medical and religious exemptions. As of November 23, 2021, 96.6% of the 23,500 university employees had completed their primary vaccination series, and 2.7% had approved exemptions or deferrals. Among 23,630 health system employees, 93.3% had completed their primary vaccination series, and 6.1% had approved exemptions or deferrals. Employees who had not completed the primary vaccine series participated in a weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing programexternal icon. During the Fall 2021 semester, the cumulative test positivity rate was 0.39%, with 282,358 tests administered to unvaccinated faculty and staff and all students.Key components of this effort included:
Holding regular, virtual town hall meetings with experts to discuss vaccine safety and efficacy and options among the approved and authorized vaccines.
Providing robust reporting mechanisms for tracking compliance with vaccination or obtaining approved exemptions, which allowed managers to have individual conversations to address concerns and encourage vaccination.
Allowing employees to obtain vaccines at work during work hours and at easily accessible times and locations.
Providing transportation to vaccination locations on site.
Providing paid time off for employees with side effects after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Calling employees and sending personalized notifications of employee vaccine compliance status and scheduling options.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
You will be subject to the destination website’s privacy policy when you follow the link.
CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.
For more information on CDC’s web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers.
Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
You will be subject to the destination website’s privacy policy when you follow the link.
CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.
For more information on CDC’s web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers.
Race and ethnicity are risk markers for other underlying conditions that impact health
Rate ratios compared to White, Non-Hispanic persons
American Indian or Alaska Native, Non-Hispanic persons
Asian, Non-Hispanic persons
Black or African American, Non-Hispanic persons
Hispanic or Latino persons
Cases1
1.6x
0.7x
1.1x
1.5x
Hospitalization2
3.1x
0.8x
2.4x
2.3x
Death3
2.1x
0.8x
1.7x
1.8x
Race and ethnicity are risk markers for other underlying conditions that affect health, including socioeconomic status, access to health care, and exposure to the virus related to occupation, e.g., frontline, essential, and critical infrastructure workers.
References
1 Data Source: Data reported by state and territorial jurisdictions (accessed March 15, 2022), COVID-19 Case Surveillance Public Use Data | Data | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov). Numbers are ratios of age-adjusted rates standardized to the 2019 U.S. intercensal population estimate. Calculations use only the 66% of case reports that have race and ethnicity; this can result in inaccurate estimates of the relative risk among groups.
2 Data source: COVID-NET (March 1, 2020 through March 5, 2022). Numbers are ratios of age-adjusted rates standardized to the 2020 US standard COVID-NET catchment population. Starting the week ending 12/4/2021, Maryland temporarily halted data transmission of COVID-19 associated hospitalizations, impacting COVID-NET age-adjusted and cumulative rate calculations. Hospitalization rates are likely underestimated (linkexternal icon).
3 Data Source: National Center for Health Statistics provisional death counts (https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-Death-Counts-for-Coronavirus-Disease-C/pj7m-y5uh, data through March 5, 2022). Numbers are ratios of age-adjusted rates standardized to the 2019 U.S. intercensal population estimate.
Note: Adjusting by age is important because risk of infection, hospitalization, and death is different by age, and age distribution differs by racial and ethnic group. If the effect of age is not accounted for, racial and ethnic disparities can be underestimated or overestimated.
If you test positive and are an older adult or someone who is at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, treatment may be available. Contact a healthcare provider right away after a positive test to determine if you are eligible, even if your symptoms are mild right now. You can also visit a Test to Treat locationexternal icon and, if eligible, receive a prescription from a provider. Don’t delay: Treatment must be started within the first few days to be effective.
Race and ethnicity are risk markers for other underlying conditions that impact health
Rate ratios compared to White, Non-Hispanic persons
American Indian or Alaska Native, Non-Hispanic persons
Asian, Non-Hispanic persons
Black or African American, Non-Hispanic persons
Hispanic or Latino persons
Cases1
1.6x
0.7x
1.1x
1.5x
Hospitalization2
3.1x
0.8x
2.4x
2.3x
Death3
2.1x
0.8x
1.7x
1.8x
Race and ethnicity are risk markers for other underlying conditions that affect health, including socioeconomic status, access to health care, and exposure to the virus related to occupation, e.g., frontline, essential, and critical infrastructure workers.
References
1 Data Source: Data reported by state and territorial jurisdictions (accessed March 15, 2022), COVID-19 Case Surveillance Public Use Data | Data | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov). Numbers are ratios of age-adjusted rates standardized to the 2019 U.S. intercensal population estimate. Calculations use only the 66% of case reports that have race and ethnicity; this can result in inaccurate estimates of the relative risk among groups.
2 Data source: COVID-NET (March 1, 2020 through March 5, 2022). Numbers are ratios of age-adjusted rates standardized to the 2020 US standard COVID-NET catchment population. Starting the week ending 12/4/2021, Maryland temporarily halted data transmission of COVID-19 associated hospitalizations, impacting COVID-NET age-adjusted and cumulative rate calculations. Hospitalization rates are likely underestimated (linkexternal icon).
3 Data Source: National Center for Health Statistics provisional death counts (https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-Death-Counts-for-Coronavirus-Disease-C/pj7m-y5uh, data through March 5, 2022). Numbers are ratios of age-adjusted rates standardized to the 2019 U.S. intercensal population estimate.
Note: Adjusting by age is important because risk of infection, hospitalization, and death is different by age, and age distribution differs by racial and ethnic group. If the effect of age is not accounted for, racial and ethnic disparities can be underestimated or overestimated.
Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
You will be subject to the destination website’s privacy policy when you follow the link.
CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.
For more information on CDC’s web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers.
Children Can Get COVID-19
Some children with COVID-19 feel fine.
Some children with COVID-19 feel bad.
Some children with COVID-19 get really sick.
Children can spread COVID-19 to family and other people.
COVID-19 vaccination for children is important
COVID-19 vaccines help keep children from getting really sick from COVID-19.
Everyone ages 5 years and older should get the COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccination helps protect children and their families.
COVID-19 vaccination helps keep children safer in school.
COVID-19 vaccination for children is safe
COVID-19 vaccination is safe for children.
Children cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine.
After children get the COVID-19 vaccine
Some children will feel fine after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Some children may feel sick after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Some children may feel tired after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Your child should feel better in a few days.
Call your doctor if you are worried about how your child feels.
Children 5 years and older should get the COVID-19 vaccine
Your child can get the COVID-19 vaccine even if they have health problems.
Things to know about the COVID-19 vaccine for children
Teens get the same size dose as adults.
Children get a smaller dose that is the right size for them.
Everyone ages 12 years and older should also get a booster shot.
Finding the COVID-19 vaccine for your child is easy
The COVID-19 vaccine is free.
Ask your doctor or a local pharmacy, clinic, or health department if they have the COVID-19 vaccine for your child or teen.
Text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens near you.
CDC has updated isolation and quarantine recommendations for the public, and is revising the CDC website to reflect these changes. These recommendations do not apply to healthcare personnel and do not supersede state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations.