The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) announced on November 19, at 8 am that all adults are eligible to receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine booster. This announcement opens the possibility up to a large majority of Bradley University students.
According to the FDA, those “individuals 18 years of age and older after completion of primary vaccination,” are now eligible for a single booster dose of either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech.
The majority of college students are 18 upon coming to college or quickly approaching the age. For Bradley students, this could serve as a large step to getting the campus to a safer and healthier environment.
When Bradley announced that all students would need the vaccination, approximately 65% of the study body had received the vaccine; which, President Stanford reminded, was above the national average for the 18-24 age range.
Following this trend, the COVID-19 Dashboard used to track and share the school’s status concerning coronavirus, reflects that now 91.1% of students are either fully vaccinated or have received at least one dose.
“I’m proud of us for coming together as a school to achieve this, but I’m also proud of us for the effect it has on the larger community and nation,” said Sage O’Brien (junior) when learning of the high rate.
The booster now being available will lessen the effects of symptoms if contracted, but will also significantly reduce the chances of the virus being caught if exposed.
To receive the vaccine FDA requirements are as follows: Must be aged 18 or older, have received full (2 doses) of another FDA approved vaccine, 6 months have passed since the last dose was administered.
Previously those identified as high-risk individuals and those 65 or older were only approved for the booster dose.
Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech recipients can get either booster but it is recommended to get the same as the first two rounds.
Bradley has previously offered vaccination on campus either in the Health Services clinic or thought on of their scheduled vaccine events. No announcements have been made on whether a booster will be available on campus.
The booster is not a requirement for students and the Provost office has yet to comment on the rolling updates. Based on past stances taken by President Stanford, it is expected that the vaccine booster will be recommended but not required.
Students who want to be proactive in seeking out the booster themselves have options close to campus to get their booster.
Kellen Langton (junior) received hers from Walgreen. She said, “it was a pretty easy process for me. I went early because my family is at high risk and I wanted to keep them safe”.
Other students can also go to Walgreens, CVS, or HyVee pharmacies to receive the booster. All offer walk-ins and scheduled appointments with proof of previous vaccine completion.
This comes after Governor Pritzer announced in August of 2021, that all staff and students of higher education were required to get the vaccination, to which Bradley chose to comply.
Braves were required to receive at least one dose of any FDA approved or submit to frequent testing upon coming to campus for the fall semester and will be required to provide vaccination records or expectation records to register and attend spring semester classes.
Making the booster eligible for all adults 18 and up is an attempt by the FDA to help reduce confusion on who is eligible and ensure that the most people who can safely get the vaccine and its booster do. This, in turn, will help combat the lingering pandemic on and off-campus.