“Fall 2021 is going to look much more like the fall of 2019 than it did 2020,” said David Lakey, vice chancellor for health affairs and chief medical officer at the University of Texas System in an interview with The Washington Post.
The dependency of returning to somewhat normalcy is all about vaccinations.
McDaniel Vaccine Clinic
McDaniel students received notice of a vaccine clinic coming to campus. Carroll County Health Department partnered with McDaniel to provide students an on-campus vaccine clinic. The vaccine offered on campus will be the Moderna vaccine.
The first dose of the vaccine will be given on Tuesday, April 27 and the second on Tuesday May 25. McDaniel urges students to only sign up if they will be available to receive the second dose on May 25, as they will not be able to participate if they are not available for both doses.
The semester ends before May 25 and students will have moved out. Therefore, students will need to travel back to receive their second dose. McDaniel will not have housing available for students who are coming back for their second dose.
What are the benefits of getting vaccinated?
Getting the COVID-19 vaccines protects yourself and those around you. “Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine also helps keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19,” said the CDC.
How does getting vaccinated help others?
Herd immunity is a major benefit that comes out of the mass majority of people getting vaccinated. Herd immunity is a step to returning to normal. Getting vaccinated allows you to not only protect yourself, but others too.
Why do people get symptoms from the vaccines?
“You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects,” said the CDC.
Side effects are said to only last a few days. If you do not get any side effects, it is completely normal and does not mean your vaccine is not working.
Are vaccines safe?
“While more COVID-19 vaccines are being developed as quickly as possible, routine processes and procedures remain in place to ensure the safety of any vaccine that is authorized or approved for use. Safety is a top priority, and there are many reasons to get vaccinated,” said the CDC.
Vaccines would not be open to the public if the CDC did not believe they were safe for everyone eligible.
What can you do differently after you are vaccinated?
Once you are fully vaccinated, the CDC says you can start doing more. The CDC has confirmed fully vaccinated people can gather indoors without masks with other people who are fully vaccinated.
There are also benefits of being fully vaccinated when it comes to travel. “Fully vaccinated people can resume domestic travel and do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel,” said the CDC.
When do you become fully vaccinated?
You are not fully vaccinated as soon as you get your shot.
- Moderna: Two weeks after second dose
- Pfizer-BioNTech: Two weeks after second dose
- Johnson & Johnson: Two weeks after single-dose
Pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine: “Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine: CDC and FDA have recommended a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson’s J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine in the United States out of an abundance of caution, effective Tuesday, April 13,” said the CDC.
Do you have to pay to get vaccinated?
No. The federal government is providing vaccines with no cost to anyone.
Who can get vaccinated?
Everyone who is 16 years or older is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
How do you get vaccinated?
Visit this link for information about where vaccines are being offered near you:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/How-Do-I-Get-a-COVID-19-Vaccine.html
Why aren’t children under the age of 16 allowed to get vaccinated?
Trials are taking place but the vaccine has not yet been approved for anyone under 16. “A vaccine is not authorized by the federal government or by the state for children under 16 years of age. Studies are ongoing,” said Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Is McDaniel requiring students to vaccinated?
McDaniel will make the decision about whether students need to be vaccinated for Fall 2021 by June 15. Many other colleges have announced they plan to require their students to get vaccinated.
“Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed,” said the CDC.
