UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | March 29, 2024

DSU offering COVID-19 vaccines

Vaccines are now available to individuals over the age of 16. President Joe Biden is hopeful for more normalcy by July 4. Graphic by Emily Wight.

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With individuals over 16 years of age now being eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Dixie State University will be hosting a vaccination clinic available to students, faculty and staff.

Garyn Gulbranson, director of the Booth Wellness Center, said DSU is partnering with the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, a health and wellness program to promote the prevention of disease, to provide the vaccination clinic on the DSU campus April 22 and 23.

An appointment is required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the clinic. Students and faculty can now register for a time on the Booth Wellness Center’s website. There are also numerous clinics in Washington County that are giving the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible individuals.

DSU has reported 853 total cases since March 2020, and according to The New York Times, more than 120,000 cases since Jan. 1 have been linked to American colleges and universities.

“DSU is not requiring students, faculty [or] staff to be vaccinated; however, it is strongly encouraged for those who are eligible to seek vaccination,” Gulbranson said.

According to CNN, at least 14 universities around the U.S. have already decided the vaccine will be required in order for students to return to campus for the fall 2021 semester.

“With the safety measures the university has taken, herd immunity, and the greater vaccination, I am very confident that we will be mostly back to normal this fall 2021,” said Josh Thayn, executive director of event services and risk management.

Gulbranson and Thayn said they both encourage all who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in order to ensure the 2021-22 school year feels as normal as it can. They both said they are confident that when school begins in the fall, things will begin to feel “normal” again.