Shepherd students discuss their viewpoint on the COVID-19 vaccination process

Aka
SHEPHERDSTOWN — Students at Shepherd University could be getting the COVID-19 vaccination soon, according to an email sent out to students on March 11.
If approved by the university administration, the vaccine will be given on campus for free to students who choose to take it. As of now, Shepherd University has vaccinated over 400 employees, who have received both the first and second doses.
The state of West Virginia has also offered additional vaccines to anyone 40-or-older on campus who has not received a vaccination yet.
According to the March 11 email, the vaccinations will be provided by the state. Attached to the email was a survey to see how many students would be interested in receiving the vaccine, so the state could get an estimate on how many vaccines to provide the university with.
Currently, Shepherd University students are mixed in their opinions on getting the vaccination. For some, their parents’ opinion on the topic is what guided their decision when taking the survey.
“My parents are still wary of the vaccine and would rather wait a little while longer before any of us take it,” said psychology major Kady Sanogo.
Some students, like computer engineering major Marquell Campbell, have chosen to wait until further information about the vaccination’s effectiveness has come out, before getting it.
“I’m all for anyone else, no matter who they are to me, to take the vaccine if they want,” Campbell said. “Just because I’m not pushing to do so, I’m not gonna push that same mentality on others. I’m just personally gonna give it some time.”
Still other students are planning to getting the vaccination as soon as possible.
“I’m all for it,” said computer science major Tongwa Aka.
Graduate student Dylan Bishop has already gotten the vaccination off-campus, and said he’s glad to have done so.
“It was pretty quick and easy,” Bishop said. “I just have a bit of . . . aches, but otherwise, I’m feeling pretty good. Glad to be getting it finally”
Along with professors, students in the nursing program at the university have also received both doses of the vaccine. Masks and social distancing will still be required on campus, regardless of a student’s vaccination status.