COVID-19 Vaccine Update

April 5, 2021

Dear SLU community members,

I am thrilled to share that the state of Missouri has approved SLU to receive 6,000 doses of vaccine this week, in addition to almost 1,200 second doses that our team intends to administer. This vaccine shipment comes just in time for the opening of Phase 3 of the state’s vaccine priority plan on Friday, April 9. On that day, all Missourians will be eligible to get vaccinated.

Students: This means that if you haven’t already been vaccinated, you could be as soon as this Friday.

• I want to get a vaccine. What do I do? Please fill out this survey indicating your interest and where you are on the priority list. Our team is downloading data every few hours and will follow up with emails to schedule your vaccination during clinics this week or next.
• What about my loved ones? We have been actively vaccinating loved ones who are eligible, and will continue to do so next week when eligibility expands. Please be sure to fill out this survey for your loved ones. Previously, we limited vaccinations to household members. We are excited to expand vaccine access to every eligible member of your family.
• What vaccine is it? Starting this week, we will administer both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines. When we share registration information with those who fill out the survey, those people can pick between the two clinics. If you register for the Moderna vaccine, you must plan to be on campus 28 days later to receive your second dose.
• Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If you cannot be sure that you will be able to get the second of the two-dose Moderna vaccine, we recommend that you sign up for the J&J vaccine. In light of the pandemic and as a matter of public health, the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have asserted that it is morally acceptable to receive the J&J vaccine.
• Age restrictions: Both the Moderna and J&J vaccines are available to those 18 years and older.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email pandemic@slu.edu. In the meantime, please be sure you fill out the survey so we can get to you as quickly as possible.

Stay safe and be well.

Terri Rebmann, Ph.D., RN, CIC, FAPIC
Special Assistant to the President
Director, Institute for Biosecurity
Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
College for Public Health and Social Justice