Student Health Services will be offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and booster as well as the influenza vaccine during their spring vaccine clinic today, Friday, Feb. 18.
Students will have access to both vaccines from 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Moderna vaccine and booster shots will be free, but flu shots will cost $29.
“People can get shots for both COVID and influenza at the same time and be fine,” Mary Beth Bender, Student Health Service Director, said.
Bender said that several patients received both vaccines in their October vaccination drive and no one reported any issues or negative effects.
“We try to do a vaccination clinic in October after we get our flu shot supply, and then we might do one in the spring depending on supply and how many we have left,” Bender said.
October’s vaccine clinic saw slightly lower attendance than Bedner would have liked, but she is hopeful for today’s clinic.
“We would love to have any student who hasn’t gotten a flu vaccine,” Bender said. “With spring break coming up we want people to be able to travel and stay healthy.”
Only the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will be available because it is the only vaccine supplied to SHS by the county. Bender emphasized that anyone can get the Moderna booster, no matter which brand they received for their first two shots.
“We would like to get as many of our student population vaccinated and boosted as we can,” Bender said. “We know that is one of the tools we have to keep our population on campus healthy and going to classes.”
Alicia Perez, a graduate teaching assistant at the university, heard about the vaccination clinic through both employee and student electronic newsletters.
“I’m thinking about getting my booster there. I got my previous two shots down at Walmart, and I get my flu shot with my primary care provider,” Perez said.
Students are encouraged to call ahead if they plan on getting the COVID-19 vaccine, as the Modern vaccine and booster are of limited quantity. No appointment is necessary for flu vaccines.
