After more than a year of life on hold – masks, social distancing, cancelled activities and upended routines – vaccines to protect against the coronavirus are now available to all adults in New York.
Siena will kick off its on-campus vaccine drive on Tuesday, April 6 with a clinic in the UHY Center – the very first day the vaccine is available in New York for those 16 and older. About 500 in-person residential and commuter students have already registered for their Pfizer shots. The clinic is coordinated by Siena’s Health Services in partnership with St Peter's Health Partners.
Is your home state outside of New York? You still qualify to get the vaccine if you're an on-campus resident.
If you were unable to register for Tuesday’s clinic, you can sign up for regional appointments through the New York State or Albany County websites (residential students use your Siena College address when scheduling). Check these sites frequently, as new appointments open up regularly. The College will also make every effort to host future clinics on campus (check your email frequently), but please do not wait to schedule your appointment independently.
Faculty, coaches and employers have been asked to excuse students for their appointment times.
The College was able to hold a trial vaccine run on March 31 for 60 students who qualified under New York’s Phase 1B.
“I feel accomplished. I feel safer. I feel better about going home to my family,” said Adrianna Hann '24. “I'm over wearing masks, and I'm over not being able to hang out with my friends. It definitely feels good to do my part.”
As an added incentive, President Chris Gibson, Ph.D. is introducing the Siena Vaccination Challenge (see below).
Hann said she was happy to meet the challenge: “I think it's important because if you get vaccinated, you're protecting people who can't get vaccinated."
John Sweeney '22 said his shot was painless.
“I didn't feel it at all,” he said. “We all hope to get back to normal as soon as possible. We’re looking forward to having SienaFest, and basketball games with crowds. I would encourage everyone to do their part and get the vaccine to support the Siena community.”
Students who have any existing vaccination appointments elsewhere should keep them until they have confirmed a spot for an on-campus clinic.
As an added incentive, President Gibson is introducing the Siena Vaccination Challenge.
Once 70 percent of the in-person student population (1,828 of 2,611) has completed their vaccination series, the following changes to operations will come into effect:
- Masks will be optional outdoors when social/physical distancing is achieved (still required indoors)
- Guests permitted will expand to 3 in residence halls and 5 in townhouses
- Outdoor gatherings up to 50 may resume with safety protocols
- All clubs will be permitted to resume full activities with safety protocols
- Vaccinated community members will be defaulted to “Green” status for daily health screening (can override if feeling symptoms)