The College of Charleston COVID-19 Leadership Team shared the following message on Friday, April 9, 2021, regarding upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics for students:
Dear Students,
College of Charleston Student Health Services is delighted to announce that it will begin offering appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine for currently enrolled (registered for Spring 2021 semester) students beginning next week. The College anticipates receiving both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccines from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
Students can schedule appointments by logging into their student health portal account at: https://cofc.medicatconnect.com/. Please select appointments (top of patient portal), select “Covid Vaccine Administration,” select an appointment date and complete required forms to confirm your appointment.
Student Health Services will provide 300 doses on each of the days listed below while supplies last*. Appointments will take place at Student Health Services located at 181 Calhoun Street (behind the Robert Scott Small Building). Currently, appointments can be made for the following days:
- Wednesday, April 14th
- Tuesday, April 20th
- Monday, April 26th
- Wednesday, April 28th*
- Friday, April 30th*
Appointments are booked on a first-come-first-served basis. Additional appointments will be made available as more vaccines are received. Student Health Services will NOT be able to make appointments by phone or email. All appointments must be booked through the online portal. Walk-up appointments will not be accepted.
The College anticipates receiving its first shipment of vaccines by Tuesday, April 13th. If the shipment is delayed, Student Health Services will contact scheduled appointments and re-book them for the following week.
The manufacturer will be determined the same day by Student Health Services, and students will not be able to request a certain vaccine. Students who receive the Moderna vaccine, which requires two doses, will receive information regarding their second-dose appointments at the vaccine clinic. The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) requires only one dose.
Vaccines are provided at no cost to CofC students. Insurance information will NOT be collected.
We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to our students and ask for your patience and understanding as we take on this major event. Please reference the frequently asked questions below for additional information.
Go Cougars!
–CofC COVID-19 Leadership Team
Frequently Asked Questions
Can family members, College of Charleston Staff or Faculty participate in this event? No, this event is limited to currently enrolled students at College of Charleston. Incoming students will be eligible for the vaccine this fall.
What if all appointment times appear to be booked? Please check back frequently, as appointments may be cancelled throughout the day.
I will be graduating or leaving campus before the second–dose appointment window. What should I do? The College encourages you to still sign up for an appointment to receive your first dose. After your first dose, you can sign up for a second–dose appointment. We encourage you to get your first dose prior to the start of finals so you can get your second dose after finals end! If you are unable to return to Student Health Services for your second dose, you will be able to book a second–dose appointment near your home. You can find vaccine distributors in South Carolina on the DHEC website at: https://vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov/ To locate vaccine distributors in other states, we recommend using VaccineFinder at: https://vaccinefinder.org/
How many doses will the school provide? The College is working with SC DHEC to advocate for as many vaccines for students as possible. Our initial shipment will provide 500 doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine and 1,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine. Our ability to get future doses will depend on vaccine utilization on campus. Each week the college will be able to request additional doses.
I have some questions about the vaccines, where can I find information about them? Please visit the SC DHEC website for more vaccine information: https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-vaccine/covid-19-vaccine-faqs
I’ve already received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine through other means. Can I make an appointment to receive a second dose at this on-campus clinic? Yes. If you previously received the Moderna vaccine, please select an appointment for a second–dose appointment. We are unable to accommodate second-dose Pfizer vaccine appointments.
Why should I get vaccinated?
- If enough people are vaccinated, the community develops herd immunity, and the virus cannot easily spread from person to person. Experts estimate that herd immunity would require around 80-90% of the population to have COVID-19 immunity.
- All COVID-19 vaccines currently approved in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19.
- None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19, so a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
- Getting vaccinated helps protect those who cannot be vaccinated, like newborns or people who are allergic to the vaccine.