Dear UCSF Community,
One year has passed since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, but we are writing today to recognize another significant milestone in the effort to bring this public health crisis to an end.
Today, UCSF administered its 100,000th vaccine dose. Our vaccine rollout accounts for nearly a third of all doses administered in San Francisco, more than any other vaccine provider in the city. We want to thank our vaccine planning team and vaccine site volunteers for making this possible, and we hope you will join us in celebrating this achievement.
While we still have some distance to go before declaring an end to the pandemic, our society is at a hopeful turning point.
There are now three vaccines authorized for use in the United States, all of which are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. The CDC has also issued interim recommendations for individuals who are fully vaccinated. Though these recommendations do not apply in health care settings, including UCSF Health facilities, they offer reassuring guidance from federal officials that we are on the path to recovery.
We will review the new CDC guidance to determine what changes we will make to campus-wide COVID-19 policies. For now, we ask that everyone in the UCSF community at all of our locations — regardless of vaccination status — continue to mask, physically distance, wash hands regularly, and take all necessary precautions to keep our colleagues and patients safe.
While our fight against COVID-19 has not yet ended, this...
Dear UCSF Community,
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, 2020, I am reflecting on the toll this disease has taken, the incredible rallying response of the UCSF community, and how the events of the past year will shape our future.
In recognition of this historic milestone, UCSF is hosting COVID-19: The Path Forward, a three-part series of panel discussions—on March 9, 16, and 23—that will address the lessons we have learned as scientists, health care providers, and public health experts. Panelists will discuss the science behind the pandemic, the impact of COVID-19 on our most vulnerable communities, and what a post-pandemic world might look like.
As we foster a guarded optimism that 2021 will bring brighter days, we cannot forget that the number of U.S. lives lost to the pandemic tragically surpassed 500,000 a week ago. COVID-19 remains a serious threat to public health. However, as new cases continue to decline, cities open schools and businesses, and more people are vaccinated, we can begin to envision life after the pandemic.
I hope you will join me for these special panel discussions, which are open to the broader public. These conversations, which will be recorded and may be viewed at a later time, will help guide our communities toward a better understanding of the challenges we face as we emerge from the pandemic’s grip. They also reflect the year-long contributions UCSF has made to public health, a reminder of our responsibility and privilege to serve our patients and...