The wait is over. On Thursday, Apr. 1, the COVID-19 vaccine became available for individuals 18 and older across the state of Michigan. After months of waiting, college students received the opportunity to get their first dose of the vaccine. Spectrum Health Lakeland in Niles, Michigan, was the closest vaccination center for Andrews students to book appointments. Consequently, over the last week many Andrews students have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and have taken a step closer to normal.
Currently, there are 26 colleges and universities across the state of Michigan serving as vaccination centers for college students. In providing vaccinations to students on Apr. 1, the Michigan Health Department hopes to get students fully vaccinated before they leave for summer break. About 1.8 million individuals have been vaccinated in the state of Michigan. However, as cases continue to rise it has become increasingly important that college students have access to vaccination centers.
Last week many Andrews students booked their appointments at Spectrum Health Lakeland online. Upon arrival, they were quickly checked in, were escorted to vaccine stations, and required to wait 15 minutes after getting the vaccine to make sure there were no problematic side effects.
Several Andrews University students shared their experience getting their vaccine. Nellie Karengo (senior, English) expressed her excitement for finally having access to the vaccine. “Getting the vaccine was an exciting experience for me, largely because it was something I had been looking forward to for many months. I know many have their hesitations, but after doing research I was confident in my decision to go forward with it,” she said. “Given that COVID-19 has majorly obstructed life across the globe for over a year now, I feel extremely lucky to have the opportunity offered to me, and I am beyond grateful for the history-making collaborative effort that the scientific community put into it.”
Alex Hess (sophomore, English) also shared his experience. He said, “Getting the first dose of Moderna was like a breath of fresh air—I finally felt like I could relax. It was one less thing I had to worry about. My experience at Lakeland Health was also extremely efficient. Their ease and confidence honestly were very highly reassuring for me, as someone who does not like shots!”
Additionally, Elianna Srikureja (junior, English) explained how getting the vaccine has helped ensure her ability to safely interact with her family this summer. “Getting my vaccination at the Lakeland clinic was a fun experience. The staff were helpful and overall the process was fast and stress free. Getting the vaccine was a huge relief! Being able to receive it before the end of the school year meant that I could visit with my aging grandmother this summer.”
Claire Fossmeyer (sophomore, pre-physical therapy) also commented on how the opportunity to get vaccinated will contribute to the safety of those around her in addition to her own safety. She explained, “I am very excited to have the opportunity to get the vaccine. As a pre-PT major, being safe is something that I definitely care about, not only for myself, but also for others. I think we should all do our part for the safety of those that may be at a higher risk.”
If you have not received the vaccine yet and would like to set an appointment, Spectrum Lakeland Health still has appointment slots available on their website. This is just one more step in ensuring a safer campus and community, and returning to a bit more normalcy.
Sources
ABC12 News Staff. “Michigan ramping up COVID-19 vaccine efforts on college
college campuses, in Detroit area.” ABC12, April 8, 2021,
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.