Dear Pomona College Faculty and Staff,
Updated COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out nationwide, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone over six months of age get one. The CDC also recommends annual flu shots for this same age group as well.
You can make appointments to receive both vaccines (either at once or by separate appointments) at the state website.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health notes that the updated COVID-19 vaccine targets the Omicron variant XBB 1.5 and more than 95 percent of COVID-19 strains circulating in the county descend from the XBB strain.
“Immunity to COVID infections wanes over time and with new variant strains circulating, there is increased potential for infection,” reports county public health. “The updated vaccine is safe and provides effective protection against severe illness from COVID-19 strains that are circulating now.”
At Pomona, COVID-19 testing is available for staff and faculty through our on-campus Hamilton Health Box (HHB) Clinic, which also provides services such as flu testing, treatment for sore throat, runny nose, cough and ear infections (to name a few examples).
The HHB Clinic, located at 118 E 8th Street, will be open for COVID-19 testing during the following hours:
- Tuesdays 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
- Thursdays 2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
All faculty and staff who:
- know they are COVID-19 positive through a test
- suspect they have COVID-19 through symptoms
- are under an order to self-isolate or quarantine issued by a health care practitioner or the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (or other local, state, or federal agency)
should immediately report that information by calling the HHB Clinic at (909) 607-0616 or by filling out the health check form.
Thank you for your help in maintaining our community’s health.
Sincerely,
Jeff Roth
Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer
Y. Melanie Wu
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College