USD student employees now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine: The beginning of student vaccinations
USD student employees now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine: The beginning of student vaccinations
Maria Simpson / Asst. News Editor / The USD Vista
Within the last couple of months, receiving the COVID-19 vaccine has gone from a distant hope to a common reality for many in San Diego, including USD student employees. On March 5, the millionth dose of the vaccine was administered in San Diego County, and this is only the beginning. According to the county’s Board of Supervisors, “the county is averaging about 14,000 vaccinations each day, but has the capacity to administer 33,000 vaccinations each day and more than 1,000,000 per month.” There is a shortage of doses at the moment, hindering this goal, but with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine approved more doses are expected to be available soon.
San Diego County is currently in Phase 1B which includes anyone 65 and older and essential workers in the following sectors (which are at a higher risk of exposure from their work): emergency services, food and agriculture, and childcare and education. Since childcare and education is one of these eligible groups, student employees such as tour guides and Resident Assistants are also able to receive the vaccine now.
On March 1, USD student employees received a letter from Residential Life informing them of their eligibility and options for receiving the vaccine. USD is not administering vaccinations on campus yet, so student employees can either wait until that is an option or they can be vaccinated at a county site.
Claire Wagner, a sophomore RA at USD, received her first dose on March 5.
“I think getting vaccinated is a really important way that we need to protect each other and protect ourselves,” Wagner said. “I know personally that being in duty situations makes me really nervous of potentially catching COVID-19 from a resident who is not wearing a mask or not following the guidelines and mandates, so I’m really excited. It will make me feel more protected.”
While getting vaccinated is highly encouraged, it is not required by the university at this point. Once San Diego reaches Phase 2 of vaccinations and all students are eligible to receive a vaccine, the school could possibly make the COVID-19 vaccine a requirement, like many other vaccinations students have to receive before attending school.
In a forum with Associated Student Government on Feb. 23, Cynthia Avery, Ed.D., assistant vice president of student life at USD, said that if vaccines are readily available to the general public by Fall 2021, all students will be required to receive a vaccine if they are to come on campus, just as they would for any other vaccine. However, a lot of people are concerned about the COVID-19 vaccine since it is so new, so requiring students to get it could be a challenge.
As of right now, San Diego has made plenty of progress, having already vaccinated 10% of the entire county population. USD has already begun some vaccinations and as pharmaceutical companies continue to ramp up production of the vaccine, it is likely that a functional on-campus vaccination site and student vaccinations are not too distant.