Dear Colleague,
Vaccines and boosters remain the best way to protect yourself and your colleagues from COVID-19. The CDC recommends that people remain up to date with their vaccines, which includes a booster dose. Vaccines and boosters are readily available, you can call the Student Health Center’s COVID-19 phone line at 319-273-2100 to set up an appointment or visit vaccinate.iowa.gov/providers/ to find a provider off campus.
In its commitment to your safety as a university employee, the university will again make available to you an N95 kit this spring semester. This kit includes:
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An N95 respirator. An N95 respirator is a device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles. If you are seeking to voluntarily use an N95 respirator at work we ask that you review and follow UNI’s Guide to Employees Using Respirators When Not Required.
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A small brown paper bag. To help prevent supply shortages of N95 respirators for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, employees voluntarily using an N95 respirator are encouraged to reuse it so long as it is not soiled, contaminated, or damaged. Storing an N95 respirator in a breathable paper bag at the end of each use has proven to prolong its life.
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A face shield. Face shields alone are not as effective as masks at protecting you or the people around you from respiratory droplets, however, face shields have been used to protect N95 respirators from external contamination.
To pick up your N95 kit, please stop by the Risk Management Office at 3219 Hudson Road between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or email safety@uni.edu to have your kit delivered to your departmental office where you normally receive packages.
In addition to this kit, new employees will continue to be eligible to receive two cloth face coverings, a face shield and a bottle of hand sanitizer. New employees can pick up these materials at new employee orientation or the Risk Management Office.
If you ever forget your mask, or if it becomes soiled, wet, or damaged during the day, please feel free to ask your supervisor for a disposable face covering. Departments can request disposable face coverings by contacting Jeffrey Van Gelder, UNI Warehouse, jeff.vangelder@uni.edu.
Stay Well,
Joseph Rayzor,
Director of Risk Management