Vaccine 101

Elon announced last week that we’re expecting to have 80 percent of campus vaccinated by the end of April and we could not be more excited! It’s been a long year for all of us, and we know that things won’t just go back to normal at the end of the month, but it feels like there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Many Elon students are already eligible to get the vaccine, but the rest of us will get our moment to shine starting April 7th. We’re gonna hook you up with all the info on how and when to make your appointments. The school emails are great and all but with so much going on, there’s not always time to read through them. No worries, we’ve got your back. 

First things first, where should you go to get your vaccine? The Ready & Resilient page has a great list of locations. We’ve heard great things about Walgreens, Total Care Pharmacy, Cone Health, and Eric Lane, which are all local. Of course, you can always go further off-campus in a pinch. Elon will also start operating as a vaccination center soon if you can’t get your hands on a ride. 

Consider this your vaccine cheat sheet.

Vaccine center websites are likely going to be overwhelmed on the seventh, so be sure to be strategic in your planning if you’re in a rush to get that immunity. We suggest waiting until midnight as most locations refresh appointments for the next few days right then. You’ll probably have to schedule your first and second dose at the same time, so having some good time options is essential if your schedule is hectic. 

Now onto the questions everyone is wondering: Will the shot hurt? How will I feel after? We’ve heard from our vaccinated staff that the first dose isn’t bad at all. Most people feel sore for a few days after the shot but nothing too unbearable. We’ve heard the second dose can make you feel a bit nasty though, so plan accordingly on the day you get your shot! 

We have a few last minute tips for you. Look out for the emails from the school, even if that just means skimming the subject lines. An email went out last week offering extra vaccine appointments for Sunday and today even if you aren’t eligible. If you’re looking to get your vaccine ASAP, keep an eye out for extra supplies. It may be the way to go for you. 

We hope this information is helpful and that we’ll all be vaccinated soon. We hope to see you all, face to face, very soon.