Health Center employees and SMU police will receive the first COVID-19 vaccines from the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center, according to a Monday email from the center’s executive director, Dr. Randy Jones.

“Our campus health care workers and frontline responders – Health Center employees and SMU police ­– will receive the initial allotment of vaccines, followed by members of the SMU community, as directed by county and state health officials,” Jones wrote. “Plans are in place to make the vaccination available to spouses and dependents of SMU employees as well.

The health center does not expect to receive doses until after the first of January next year. Distribution and vaccination efforts depend on supply, yet SMU’s 2021 Spring Operations Plan projects vaccine supply to increase quickly in the following months.

The first doses of the BioTech/Pfizer vaccine were distributed to the public on Monday after being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday. The FDA will meet again on Thursday to decide whether or not to authorize the Moderna vaccine as well.

“More information on what to expect and how to register for the vaccine will be forthcoming,” Jones wrote. “We strongly encourage all members of the SMU community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when available, and help us all stay Mustang Strong.”