FDA grants full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

Yesterday, the federal Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech for people 16 and older, making it the first to move beyond emergency use authorization status. Researchers and volunteers in Rochester have been involved in the development of the vaccine since its inception. “As the first fully approved COVID vaccine, the public should be confident that this vaccine has met the FDA’s highest standards for safety and efficacy,” says Ed Walsh, a professor of medicine, who helped lead the local vaccine studies.

In today’s issue:

Duo, the University’s two-factor authentication service, is expanding
New research shows women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, who were exercising moderately, were less likely to experience brain fog
Faculty teaching a 2021 fall semester course enrolling AS&E students are invited to an active learning teaching group

TODAY’S UPDATES

Two new positive cases of COVID-19

There are two new cases of COVID-19 to report: two River Campus students. Please note that the University’s COVID-19 Dashboard is updated when a new case is known. Find the latest COVID-19 messages and updates here.

Duo is expanding—enrollment campaign begins August 24

You may be one of approximately 8,000 students, staff, and faculty who have a University account not yet enrolled in Duo. If so, you’ll receive an email from the University IT Help Desk between August 24 and September 21 with instructions on how to enroll your University or Medical Center Active Directory account in the University’s Duo two-factor authentication service.

Why? A strategic initiative to enhance security across the organization means Duo will be used to access more systems and services to help prevent threats from phishing, ransomware, and cyberattacks. If you receive an email with instructions, take some time to complete the steps to ensure each account is enrolled. Otherwise, you risk losing access to systems while off the University’s network as Duo authentication expands. For questions or assistance with enrolling, contact the University IT Help Desk at (585) 275-2000 or the Medical Center’s ISD Help Desk at (585) 275-3200.

Women with breast cancer in ‘fighting shape’ have less brain fogginess

A new study led by Wilmot Cancer Institute researchers shows that women newly diagnosed with breast cancer who were exercising moderately or vigorously before chemotherapy (getting the recommended 150 minutes per week) were less likely to suffer from “chemo brain” during and after treatment.

FOR STUDENTS

LGBTQ meet and greet

Meet other LGBTQ students and get to know the University’s LGBTQ faculty and staff on Thursday, August 26, between 3:30 and 5 p.m. in the Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons. There will be hors d’oeuvres, a rainbow lanyard giveaway, pronoun and pride pins, and a raffle for Meliora hats. This event is open to all LGBTQ students. Register here.

FOR FACULTY AND STAFF

Active learning teaching group

Anyone teaching a 2021 fall semester course enrolling AS&E students is invited to join a teaching group to explore small, easy-to-implement, evidence-based classroom activities that can be dropped into ongoing courses. Participants commit to meeting six times to read James Lang’s Small Teaching (provided), as well as trying out one of the teaching strategies once and reporting back to the group on how it worked out. If interested, contact Rachel Remmel by Friday, August 27.

Using EAP as a supervisor

Improve your ability to recognize employees whose personal problems are adversely affecting performance. Join Well-U and UR Medicine EAP on Wednesday, September 15, from noon to 1 p.m. EDT via Zoom for this workshop that will help you use the Employee Assistance Program as a productivity tool when addressing performance concerns. This training is for those in a supervisory or managerial role. Register in MyPath.

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

In honor of 100 years of the Eastman School of Music, the Eastman community around the globe is coming together to perform 100 concerts, recitals, and more in a single week, March 1–7, 2022. Learn how you can submit your performance and be part of the interactive map.

COVID-19 QUICK LINKS

Dr. Chat Bot: Non–Medical Center faculty, staff, and all students | Medical Center employees
COVID-19 Resource Center | Medical Center’s COVID-19 update page
Current campus face mask policies
Faculty and staff vaccine participation form (VPN or on-campus network connection required)
FAQ on COVID-19 vaccination
What to do if you or your close contacts have symptoms or have been exposed

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