UB will resume its plans to administer 200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to residential students at its Student Union vaccination clinic beginning Thursday.
Student Life emailed vaccination invitations Wednesday to public-facing students, including orientation leaders, tour guides, FSA student employees and campus living student staff for “priority” reservations for the vaccine. The vaccine was then opened up to all 4,150 residential students.
The site will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday and Friday at 145 Student Union. Students can make appointments by clicking on this link.
There are currently 24 appointments available on Thursday and 57 appointments available on Friday for residential students at the time of publication.
The CDC lifted the pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccines on April 23 after determining that the potential benefits of the inoculation outweighed the potential risks. The agency put the vaccine on pause on April 13 after six individuals — all women between the ages of 18 and 48 — developed severe blood clot symptoms after getting the shot.
Nancy Nielsen, senior associate dean for health policy in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, reiterated that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe.
“Remember, we’ve had seven million people that have already gotten it,” Nielsen said on WBFO, Buffalo’s NPR affiliate, on April 15. “What is the risk of dying from COVID-19? It’s one in 586 people. That’s far higher than the risk of getting a blood clot from the J&J (vaccine).”
UB students are urged to book appointments at state-run clinics, such as South Campus’ Harriman Hall. Starting Thursday, students will no longer require appointments and may walk-in to get vaccinated, according to a statement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“As final exams approach and many students prepare to move home for the summer, we are thankful that New York State is expanding vaccination options for students, making it easy for them to get fully vaccinated — no matter what logistical, geographic or scheduling hurdles stand in their way,” SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras said.
UB’s Health Guidelines committee says it expects students will be able to get the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine anywhere in the state or country, even if they get their first appointment in Buffalo or a surrounding city.
More than 3,200 students have reported they are fully vaccinated through the Daily Health Check as of Tuesday.
Dan Eastman is the assistant managing editor and can be reached at danielson.eastman@ubspectrum.com
Dan Eastman is the assistant managing editor at The Spectrum. He is a senior geography major who loves Starbucks iced americano. When he isn’t writing and editing he is trying to find the best donut and cookie shops in Buffalo. He can be found on Twitter @TheEastMan2000.
