Health Services Hosts Annual Vaccine Clinic
Students and faculty waiting in line to get their annual flu shot. Photo by Elizabeth Fazio '27
Starting on Sept. 11, Health Services opened its annual fall vaccine clinic to the Marist College community.
The department, which has partnered with ACME Pharmacy, has set up multiple dates for students, staff and faculty to visit the clinic. Vaccines are being offered on Sept. 25, Oct. 9 and 23 and Nov. 6 and 20.
The clinics are held every two weeks on the third floor of the student center in the student lounge area from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone interested in receiving a vaccine must make an appointment by scanning the QR code or booking online.
The clinic is offering a wide range of vaccines, including this year’s influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as many others.
“You can also get your measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, which is a nice vaccine to offer for international students who may have never had that vaccine in their country and for graduate students who may have had their immunity wane,” said Director of Health Services Dr. Claudia Zegans.
Some other vaccines that are being offered include the quadrivalent meningitis and meningitis B vaccines, the hepatitis A and B vaccines, the pneumonia and shingles vaccines for older adults and more.
Dr. Zegans recommends that anyone receiving a vaccination should take extra precautions to remain healthy in the days following their appointment. On the day of, Zegans suggests eating well and staying hydrated. Patients should be sure to bring a health insurance card and a method of payment in the event of a possible copayment charge.
Health Services would like as many people to get vaccinated as possible to protect the health of the community this winter.
“Flu is really common in a residential college setting because students are living, eating, working, studying together in close confines,” said Dr. Zegans. “Communities that have a high flu vaccination rate have a much lower incidence of symptomatic influenza.”
Sofia Ferreira ‘27, a second-year clinical student in the Physician’s Assistant program, attended the vaccine clinic. She had just finished an overnight shift at the hospital when she visited on the morning of Sept. 11. Ferreira decided to get her flu vaccine because she is currently doing her clinical rotations and frequents many hospitals.
“I figured it’s a good idea to get the flu vaccine to protect myself and also my patients as well,” she said.
Ferreira heard about the vaccine clinic from her clinical coordinator team, who sent out an email with information about the clinic. It was convenient for her, since hospitals require staff to receive a flu shot by the beginning of flu season.
As someone who went to the vaccine clinic, Ferreira recommends others in the Marist community take the time to stop by.
“It’s a great opportunity, it’s convenient, it’s right on campus,” said Ferreira. “Why not protect yourself and protect everyone else on campus as well?”