CMU student vaccination clinic scheduled for April 23

Central Michigan University has partnered with the Central Michigan District Health Department to vaccinate nearly 3,000 students at a clinic on campus April 23.

All registered CMU students can now schedule appointments to receive Moderna vaccines, made available by the CMDHD, at Finch Fieldhouse. Appointments are available 10 a.m.-noon and 1-6 p.m. Vaccines will not be available without an appointment.

"Providing vaccinations for students is a critical step in protecting the health and safety of our campus community," CMU President Bob Davies said. "We deeply appreciate our health department partners who have made it possible to begin vaccinating thousands of students before the semester ends."

Students can schedule appointments before 5 p.m. Friday, April 16. Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and all CMU students today received emails and text messages with a link to schedule an appointment.

Moderna is a two-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This type of vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and has been administered on campus during previous vaccine clinics.

Dr. George Kikano, CMU's vice president for health affairs and dean of the CMU College of Medicine, acknowledged that many students who receive their first dose of the Moderna vaccine on campus may then leave campus, and the Mount Pleasant area, for the summer.

"While it is recommended that individuals receive their second dose from the same provider as their first, it is not required," Kikano said. "We hope some who receive their first dose here on campus are able to return four weeks later for their second. However, if that's not possible, they should be able to show their vaccine card at another provider to receive their second dose."

Kikano also noted that both doses of the vaccine must be from the same manufacturer.

"If students receive a Moderna vaccine for their first dose, their second dose must also be Moderna," he said.

CMU, working with the local health department, began providing COVID-19 vaccines on campus in March. Since that time, the university has hosted or co-hosted more than 25 vaccination clinics and helped to administer more than 7,500 doses to members of the campus and surrounding community.