GCSU COVID-19 Vaccine Sites

Due to the high response rate and high demand from students, GC doubled the amount of
vaccines available for the latest vaccination clinic that was hosted on April 1.

On March 15, GC announced that they received 200 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
for the vaccination clinic that was hosted on March 18. At that time, the eligibility criteria to
receive the first dose was limited and since has expanded to anyone over the age of 16. On
March 25, another vaccination clinic was hosted where the slots quickly booked.

Mary Childre, the Director of Student Health Services at GC, stated that they are unable to
schedule future clinics in advance since it is dependent on the allocations of the vaccine and the
demand from students. Currently, they are ordering vaccines weekly but there is no guarantee
that they will receive them. If there is a continuing demand, there is a possibility that there will
be more clinics hosted throughout the year.

For the second dose of the vaccine, there are already designated spots for students that received
the first dose. A hope that they have is also receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine because
of the usefulness that the one-dose vaccine has.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Moderna and Pfizer
vaccines require two doses for a stronger immune response against the virus. The first dose of
the vaccine begins the process of building up protection whereas the second dose works to
reinforce this protection. For the two-dose vaccines, the side effects can include injection site
reactions, fatigue, fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, nausea and swollen lymph nodes. Since
the first dose of the vaccine generates a weaker response, the side effects are also weaker. An
individual is more likely to feel the side effects after the second dose.

Ellie Munson, a sophomore psychology major, received the first dose of the vaccine. She
reported only having a sore arm after.

“I will continue to wear a mask because I want to protect others. I do feel safer now that I’ve
gotten the vaccine,” she stated. “I just hope others are looking out for each other and getting the
vaccine too.”

Another student, Jacob Carter, a sophomore mathematics major, felt very excited receiving the
vaccine because of the year long wait.

“I will absolutely continue to wear a mask. The experts at the CDC say it’s best to wear a mask
even after being vaccinated so I will do so,” he explained. “I definitely feel more comfortable
seeing some of the older and at-risk members of my family. I was always worried that I might
spread the virus to them. Now that isn’t as much of a worry of mine”

Though some students have received the first part of the vaccine, GC strongly recommends that
we continue with the same precautions that we have been taking since the beginning of
COVID-19, such as social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands. Childre stated that just
because people have been vaccinated, does not mean we’re in the safe zone.

“Hopefully, some restrictions will be lifted soon but as of now, everything is holding steady,”
Childre stated. “The goal is to see everyone vaccinated and for them to have the opportunity to
do so through the vaccination clinics in effort to keep our campus and larger community safe.”