ALBANY, N.Y. — SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras announced a new program that is designed to vaccinate all SUNY residential students before the end of the spring semester.
On Tuesday, Chancellor Malatras says SUNY has secured its first shipment of 18,600 Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to inoculate SUNY residential students before they go home for spring break.
SUNY is working alongside the state to secure additional doses to be reserved specifically for the SUNY residential student population. Those will be distributed to more campuses as weekly installments over the next several weeks.
More than 350,000 received emails today reminding them of their eligibility, and the email also connects students with facts about available vaccine, directions to make an appointment, and review recommended health guidelines once you're vaccinated.
“SUNY has vigorously advocated on behalf of our students, faculty, and staff to make sure they were eligible for the COVID vaccine and we have worked diligently for months to prepare for this moment,” said Chancellor Malatras. "Giving residential students the one-shot option helps clear a crucial logistical hurdle in the race to get people fully vaccinated before they leave campus and return to their hometown communities. We strongly encourage all students to schedule their appointments as soon as they can; to do their part in protecting themselves, their families, and their communities; and to help spread the word about the many benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines. Our students have been unsung heroes since the beginning of this health crisis, and with the pandemic’s finish line firmly in sight, we expect them to play a pivotal role in finally putting COVID-19 behind us. I want to thank our New York State partners who helped secure these vaccines, as well as the dedicated teams and volunteers on the county and campus level that are working swiftly to set up student-specific points of distribution.”
SUNY is inviting students to share their purpose for getting vaccinated on social media with a photo or video as part of the #ItsYourTurn and #KnowYourVax public education campaigns to make sure all students get vaccinated.