On March 26, UE sent out an email to students that anyone enrolled, regardless of home state or country, could get vaccinated through a partnership with Tri-State Community Clinics. This cut out the steps the university would need to take to become its own vaccine distributer, while still making strides towards a fully vaccinated campus community. To make vaccination even more accessible, UE provided students with group transportation to their appointments. This partnership also allowed students who aren’t Indiana residents to get vaccinated before going home for the summer.
“I think it is a great idea because we could possibly get vaccinated sooner, and I will be taking this opportunity so I can feel safer about being out in public and work,” Alley Metzger, a junior business management major, said. Universities like UE have many social, academic and health reasons to encourage students to get vaccinated, but obstacles to vaccine distribution go beyond demand and age restrictions.