Purdue University announced Tuesday it plans to open a COVID-19 vaccine clinic sometime in the next week.
In a statement, the university said the state has confirmed that vaccines will be allocated to Indiana universities for their students. Purdue is waiting on the state to make doses available, but expects them sometime between April 3 and April 10.
After that, the clinic will operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Purdue officials say they “hope” to give a majority of students the opportunity to get vaccinated before the semester concludes on May 8.
Students, especially those leaving campus, will have priority.
Alisha Melton is a junior who said she wants to be vaccinated before going to Indiana University’s school of optometry.
“I’ll probably do it through the university,” Melton said. “I am graduating this semester so I’d like to get it done before I graduate.”
Sam Cheun is a Purdue senior. He said he isn’t in a hurry to get the vaccine.
“I think I will kind of see how things go,” Cheun said. “I know there are a lot of people who want the vaccine early, I’m not in a hurry to get it. I don’t mind waiting.”
The state is making the Pfizer vaccine available to the school. Purdue cautioned students, especially those planning to leave the area, to be mindful of the timetable around vaccination.
The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses to be administered between 21 and 42 days apart.
Dean Willie Reed, chair of the vaccine allocation task force for the university, said they have been assured that students who can only get their first vaccine on campus will be able to schedule their second one off-campus.
“Because of different schedules and departure times it may not be possible to get the second dose,” he said. “Students should be able to schedule their second dose in their home destination.”
Reed said the clinic has a state mandate to prioritize the student population, but could eventually serve staff.
“If they have not received it at one of the sites in Tippecanoe County certainly we want to be able to offer it to them on campus,” he said.
In a statement, the Indiana Department of Health said they were working with other colleges and universities to vaccinate students and staff and would share more details “when plans are finalized.”
The state is separately opening vaccinations up to all Hoosiers 16 and older starting on March 31. Purdue officials noted that students could also get their vaccinations from any other vaccination clinic across the state. There are currently 18 clinics in Tippecanoe County.
In the meantime, the university said it will keep mask requirements and other COVID-19 restrictions in place at least through the end of the semester.