Jakob Eiseman, Editor-in-Chief

It was announced on Nov. 15, 2021 (after our last issue was already proofed) that La Salle University would be holding a COVID-19 booster vaccine clinic on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021 at the COVID testing facility built into TreeTops Cafe on South Campus.

Similar to the clinic held on campus at the end of the spring 2021 semester, Walmart pharmacy is coming in to administer the vaccine and encourage those looking to attend the clinic to complete all necessary prerequisites prior to arrival. While it was not stated which vaccine the clinic will be providing, the CDC has stated that it is safe to receive a booster vaccine that is not of the same type as your initial vaccination. 

In order to receive a vaccine booster from the clinic, members of the La Salle community will first have to confirm that they are, in fact, eligible for the vaccine booster. The CDC recommends that boosters be administered no sooner than six months after the administering of the second dose for the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or two months after receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Those who are eligible are those who received their second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine before June 8 or the Johnson and Johnson vaccine before Oct. 8. If you are unsure you are eligible for a COVID booster, please check the CDC’s website for guidance.

At this time, the clinic is open to “La Salle students, faculty, staff, and Christian Brothers” only, but like the previous clinic, it may open up to the North Philadelphia community if stock of the booster and demand is high enough. Vaccine boosters will be available from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at TreeTops, and the University recommends that those interested schedule an appointment rather than walk in. Appointments can be made through this link. Those interested are also encouraged to complete the COVID-19 booster dose attestation form, which can be found here and on La Salle’s website.

While the booster, like the vaccine itself, is free to the general public, those who wish to receive the booster will have to provide proof of health insurance or sign an insurance waiver at the site on the day of the clinic. Those who attend the clinic will have to bring a government-issued photo ID, COVID-19 vaccination record card, and insurance card if applicable. 

As of its most recent update on Nov. 12, the La Salle COVID portal reflects that about 95 percent of the campus community is vaccinated, and the vaccine boosters were approved for everyone above the age of 18 by the CDC on Nov. 19.  The city of Philadelphia is urging its citizens to get the booster to further protect themselves, saying on their website, “Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of routine immunizations in the entire United States. Vaccines for measles and whooping cough and meningitis protect us every day. And many of those vaccines require a booster dose to make sure that we stay protected.”