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A dedicated public health expert and educator, Summer McGee, Ph.D., has been front and center on campus, as well as nationally and internationally, going above and beyond to foster awareness and education throughout the global coronavirus pandemic.

Dean of the University鈥檚 School of Health Sciences and the University鈥檚 COVID-19 coordinator, Dr. McGee has been a media staple for news organizations reporting on the pandemic. Whether she has answered WFSB Eyewitness News viewers鈥檘uestions about the COVID-19 vaccine or discussed the , Dr. McGee has offered insights aimed at keeping the public safe. She has also offered her expertise on the development of the vaccines and the importance of achieving herd immunity.

鈥淓very time there is a new COVID-19 infection, we are giving the virus a chance to mutate and develop more transmissible or deadly variants,鈥� . 鈥淭he sooner we reach herd immunity and stop chains of transmission, the less impact these variants are likely to have because it will be so much harder for COVID-19 to find an unvaccinated individual.鈥�

Dr. McGee has not been alone in her efforts to promote public health and safety. Colleague Karl Minges, Ph.D., MPH, chair of the University鈥檚 Health Administration and Policy Department, has, most recently, been discussing the COVID-19 vaccine with a variety of media outlets. He has weighed in on whether or not companies might make the vaccine mandatory, as well as the effectiveness of the vaccine.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e highly effective, they鈥檙e safe. But at the end of the day, they鈥檙e not 100 percent entirely effective,鈥� . 鈥淪o, you could have a scenario where someone gets the COVID-19 vaccination and then they are one of the five percent or 10 percent or, in some cases, 20 percent of people who still get the virus. Maybe they don鈥檛 even know it. And then they鈥檙e going to even these small gatherings and spreading that virus.鈥�

鈥榃e want to get as many people to get vaccinated as possible鈥�

The question of whether or not employers can require workers to get the vaccine is a topic that Alvin Tran, Sc.D., MPH, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy, and associate provost of diversity and inclusion, has also discussed with the media. He recently reached a national audience, .

"If they are able and willing to incentivize workers to get the vaccine, I commend that because we want to get as many people to get vaccinated as possible," he said, stating that he would be in favor of private employers mandating vaccination while allowing employees with specific objections to opt out.

Faculty members have also discussed issues facing Connecticut, as well as states around the country. Jessica Holzer, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the University鈥檚 Health Administration and Policy Department, , a California-based television station, when Santa Clara County officials wanted an exemption from the state's COVID vaccination plan.

"The difference between counties in California is that a state-wide protocol is just not going to meet the needs for everyone in the county," she said. "So, county-level professionals are going to know their county best. They鈥檙e going to know their populations, they鈥檙e going to know their doctors. They鈥檙e going to know their pharmacies. They鈥檙e just going to have the tightest relationship."

鈥業t鈥檚 going to happen within minutes鈥�

Discussing everything from travel to COVID-19 variants and face coverings, faculty members have answered questions from reporters and the public, clarified misinformation, and offered their evidence-based recommendations to the public.

Michael Urban, OTD, MBA, M.S., a senior lecturer and director of the University鈥檚 Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program, offered his insight on vaccine distribution and side effects of the vaccine, in .

鈥淔or some people, it depends on the compound used to make that vaccine,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are different types. People may have a sensitivity or an actual reaction to that compound within the vaccine. You鈥檒l know if you鈥檙e having an adverse reaction like if you鈥檙e allergic to shellfish. It鈥檚 going to happen within minutes.鈥�