Students were scrambling when Fordham announced on April 4 that it would be administering 100 doses each of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses on April 8 and 9. By 5:30 p.m. on April 4, all of the appointments were already filled for the upcoming week, leaving those who couldn’t register on a waitlist with no timeline of when they would get off.

Dana Ebralidze, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24, successfully registered for a vaccination appointment. 

“I registered within 5 minutes of getting an email that they were available, so I think that’s why I got one,” she said. “It seemed like they were gone pretty quickly. There was a waitlist though, if you didn’t get in the first time.”

Kana Seiki, FCLC ’24, was unable to register for an appointment. She said she went to the vaccination website ten minutes after the email was sent, but there were already no appointments available.

Despite the mixed experiences students had making a vaccination appointment on campus, Maureen Keown, director of University Health Services (UHS), said that UHS has “not been overwhelmed and this is something we have been planning for months.”

John Carroll, assistant vice president of Public Safety, said that the university has been “fully prepared” for months with all necessary freezers, refrigerators and equipment at both campuses.

“There were a bunch of staff there and it was a bit overwhelming at first, but it was understandable because it was the first day and I was one of the first appointments.” Dana Ebralidze, FCLC ’24

Ebralidze said her experience at Fordham’s vaccination site went smoothly. 

“My appointment was at 10:08 and I was done around 10:30,” she said. “There were a bunch of staff there and it was a bit overwhelming at first, but it was understandable because it was the first day and I was one of the first appointments.”

Ava Trochiano, FCLC ’24, also said Fordham’s vaccine procedures were “very smooth and efficient.” 

Fordham’s Expanded Vaccination Distribution 

Now, Fordham is continuing to acquire vaccines on a weekly basis. On April 11, Fordham announced they had received an additional 800 doses of the Moderna vaccine that would be distributed equally between the two campuses. The school is asking students who have already received their first dose to remove their names from the waitlist. 

There will be an additional 400 doses distributed between Lincoln Center and Rose Hill following the end of the spring semester. On May 20, there will be 150 doses at Rose Hill, 100 doses at Lincoln Center on May 21, and another 150 doses at Rose Hill on May 22.

“I don’t feel nervous or anxious, but rather more blessed and grateful to be almost fully vaccinated.” Ava Trochiano, FCLC ’24

Second Doses During Finals Period 

Students who received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine on April 8 and 9 will be receiving their second dose right before finals week. Possible side effects of the second dose include fever, chills and nausea.

Some students aren’t concerned about potentially experiencing side effects during their final exams: “I’m not too worried because side effects usually only last one day,” Ebralidze said.

Trochiano is excited to receive her second dose and take her finals in the comfort of her own home.

“I honestly feel that I’ll have enough time to recover for my finals,” Trochiano said. “I don’t feel nervous or anxious, but rather more blessed and grateful to be almost fully vaccinated.”

Dean of FCLC Laura Auricchio told the hosts of Retrospect on April 18 that the College Council was in the process of crafting a memo asking professors to “please be aware” that some of their students may have a negative reaction to the vaccine and will need to be shown leniency during finals week.

Vaccination Requirements for the Fall 

As the spring semester comes to a close, many students are wondering what life on-campus will be like for Fordham in the fall, especially considering Fordham’s recent announcement that the fall 2021 semester will be completely in-person.

In an email on April 16, Fordham stated that it will require all students to be vaccinated by the beginning of the fall semester, which has eased some of the nervousness that students are feeling toward in-person instruction.

Fordham says that its goal is “to provide a COVID-safe environment in which our students, faculty, and staff can pursue our mission; and to help protect the health and safety of our off-campus neighbors.” 

Fordham currently has arrangements with an urgent care facility on Fordham Road in the Bronx, which continues to distribute the Moderna vaccine both by appointment and to walk-ins every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

International students who are unable to be vaccinated in their home countries will be vaccinated on campus upon their arrival to Fordham in the fall.

If students still need to be vaccinated, Fordham currently has arrangements with an urgent care facility on Fordham Road in the Bronx, which continues to distribute the Moderna vaccine both by appointment and to walk-ins every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Alexandra Beard, FCLC ’24, and Melanie Sztulman, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’23, were vaccinated at the urgent care facility.

“They were the first email I saw from the school about getting vaccinated, so I immediately sent them an email requesting to sign up,” Beard said.

Sztulman decided to get her vaccine at the urgent care for the same reason: “They had vaccines available as soon as I qualified and Fordham did not,” she said. “I didn’t have to book an appointment ahead of time — they had walk-ins.”

Both Beard and Sztulman agree that the process was “quick and efficient” and that the staff was friendly. Beard added that though social distancing was enforced inside the facility, there was no one monitoring the line outside, so social distancing while waiting in line “wasn’t really happening.”

“We had over 2,300 Fordham members sign up with Urgent Care and another 1,000+ signed up for vaccinations here at Fordham campuses,” Carroll said. “We encourage everyone to get vaccinated ASAP wherever they can obtain a vaccine and we are doing everything possible to vaccinate here at Fordham.”

To register for a vaccination appointment at either campus, students can visit the COVID-19 testing website. Students will be required to show their Fordham ID before being vaccinated.