ARTS AND CULTURE – SOPHIA KUSSEL
Since the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first COVID-19 vaccine in late 2021, an endless variety of vaccines subsequently followed to accompany the incredible demand. Students in particular, were eager to once again attend their in-person classes, which at this point had become a depressingly novel idea. With the arrival of vaccines and the subsequent introduction of COVID boosters, this desire had become actualized, with in-person classes resuming during the past two years. In the following years, the COVID vaccine’s public perception has been akin to other vaccines, being viewed as mundane and as important as Flu shots. However, numerous variants of COVID, such as the infamous Omicron variant, have entered the scene which has increased the already high demand for booster shots. Enter the first updated COVID booster released Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.
On the day that the updated booster was released, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a media statement recommending the use of the new COVID boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna respectively. Pfizer-BioNTech was designed for people ages 12 years and older, while Moderna was designed for people ages 18 years and older.
The way that these updated COVID boosters work is geared toward the prevention of new COVID variants. Updated boosters target the variations that are more contagious and immune-evading by including Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the present vaccine composition. As all boosters do, this vaccine helps to restore protection that has diminished since the prior vaccination.
With the COVID vaccine boosters becoming a near necessity in 2022 and with fu season just around the corner, figuring out a time and a place to keep an individual’s vaccinations up to date can make anyone want to put them of. Avoiding getting vaccinated should not have to be a consideration and getting vaccinated certainly does not have to be difficult. The City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District states on its website, “The flu and COVID vaccines can be administered at the same time… The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
stated that the research on giving vaccines together has shown the way that our bodies develop protection and possible side effects are generally similar whether vaccines are given alone or with other vaccines.” Additionally, anyone six months of age and older who visits a Metro Health Pop-up C l i n i c is eligible for a free flu shot. The COVID vaccine is widely available and in many places, no appointment is needed. Metro Health Clinics and pop-up vaccination sites are now also offering both Pfizer and Moderna COVID bivalent vaccine boosters, allowing individuals to get vaccinated for both the Flu and COVID at the same location, with walk-in appointments readily available for the public to increase the ease of getting vaccinated. As a bonus, the Metropolitan Health District states “$100 H-E-B gif cards available. Anyone receiving any COVID vaccination at a Metro Health Clinic is eligible to receive a $100 gift card. This includes the first, second, or booster COVID shots. One gif card per person, per visit, while supplies last. Available at Metro Health clinics. Check with other providers on gif card availability,” which was reported in the recent update on the department’s website covid19.sanantonio.gov.
The Health Center at St. Mary’s University is also creating greater vaccine accessibility for students. Starting Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Student Health Center located in Charles Francis Hall, the student fu short drive will be held. Flu vaccines will be given free of charge to those who have St. Mary’s University’s student health insurance plan and a fee of $25 for those who are not. Oralia Hernandez, a Physician Assistant at the Student Health Center, states the Health Center is “being hopeful to provide more opportunities for students this year. COVID and Flu are still around, so it’s very important to recognize.” Appointments are required prior to receiving a fu shot during the student flu shot drive. To schedule an appointment with the Student Health Center, call 210- 436-3506. Students must bring their Rattler ID to their appointments as they will need to be presented.