Fairfield University is set to host two on-campus vaccination clinics on April 21 and May 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex. The clinics will work in partnership with Griffin Hospital and offer the Pfizer vaccine.
Students can register for the vaccine online, using the link sent by the University. There are 1,500 vaccines available to “any community member — University and eligible [Fairfield] Prep students, and all employees — who is not currently in isolation or quarantine” according to the email sent by Human Resources on Monday, April 21.
Community members who have already received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine whose providers have given the okay that the date of the clinic falls within the time needed to administer the second dose can receive the second dose at either of these clinics. However, all pertinent documentation must be brought to the on-campus clinic because second vaccinations will not be administered without it.
Proof of insurance and ID must be provided at each clinic and eligible Prep students who are under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian with them as well.
Donoghue described vaccinations as “the only way we are going to crush this virus” and encourages everyone to use this opportunity to get vaccinated.
“Walk out of your room and put a shot in your arm,” she said.
Additionally, Donoghue mentioned that all students who get vaccinated will be entered in a raffle for “awesome prizes.”
At the vaccination clinic there will be vaccinators and staff from the university and Griffin Hospital. Medical professions will be present to assist in case of an emergency, Donoghue said.
Director of the Student Health Center Julia Duffy M.S., APRN, B.C. said that “the University has been working towards hosting an on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinic for some time.”
Collaboration between University administration, Human Resources, public health authorities and the Student Health Center led to the identification of the community partner Griffin Hospital and a workable plan for the clinics.
Staff at the Student Health Center will be on-site helping in the vaccination of participants, but nursing students and faculty of the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies will be the “primary professional workforce supporting this clinic” according to Duffy.
Duffy echoed Donoghue’s statements of the importance of participating in the vaccination clinic.
She feels that the on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinics are important “because it is likely the vaccination acceptance rate will be higher”
Additionally, vaccination clinics on-campus minimize the barriers to the vaccine students have felt such as transportation difficulties, though the University did offer students vouchers for Uber to cover the cost of transportation to off-campus vaccination clinics. For students to receive the voucher, they must reach out to the Dean of Students Office dosoffice@fairfield.edu.
“I believe students will notice an environment of excitement and encouragement on-campus as their peers, campus staff and faculty are vaccinated,” Duffy said. “Considering vaccination protects the individual and others, supporting this type of community spirit is important.”
Fairfield University Student Association President Vincent Gadioma echoed the statements that the vaccination clinic is one step closer to normalcy.
“Everyone in this community, especially students, wants to return to the way things were pre-COVID and this clinic allows everyone to do their part and get vaccinated,” Gadioma said.
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