As the holiday season begins, there will be a COVID-19 bivalent booster clinic open for students at the Student Health Center on Dec. 5-7 by appointment only. Students can schedule an appointment on the center’s website or by phone. They can be reached at (812)-855-7688.
A sum will be charged to students’ insurance rather than their bank account. Students are eligible to get their booster if they have gotten their last booster or second shot in the primary series at least two months ago. The booster is effective against both original forms of COVID-19 and more recent variants, such as BA.4 and BA.5. The Student Health Center website provides more information on its COVID-19 policies.
Related: [What to know about the updated COVID-19 bivalent booster shots]
This new clinic makes it easier for students to get their booster and allows them to avoid going to CVS or other locations off-campus instead.
As winter approaches, it is important students get boosted to protect themselves and their families when traveling over break. It will also protect those who are not able to get the booster due to certain health conditions, such as those who are severely immunocompromised.
Since people spend more time inside with the cold weather, they are more prone to get sick in these enclosed spaces. Getting the booster will decrease the chance of sickness, hospitalization, or death. Thus, students will be less likely to miss class and finals at the end of the semester.
Related: [FDA approves bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine for children ages 5 to 11]
A surge is extremely possible if not enough people get vaccinated. There have already been COVID-19 surges in countries such as Italy, France and the U.K. The U.S. is likely next if everyone, including students, does not get their shot.
