We’re all eligible, how hype is that

How often do you hear “I just can’t wait for things to be back to normal"? Time to make it happen! Let’s #getvaxxedbydamn and crush COVID.

Vax 1 ✅ Vax 2 ✅ Finals ✅

Vaccine appointments are full on campus, but there are over 2,000 appointments in Lafayette County here. If you're getting a two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) somewhere else, make sure to get your first dose now so you can get your second dose before:

Finals
Graduation
Leaving town after the semester
Summer!

The second Pfizer dose happens at least 21 days after the first one, Moderna is at least 28 days and Johnson & Johnson is one and done. Also, some people feel tired for a day or so after the shot, which is normal, so maybe schedule your shots on your less intense days.

For the visual learners

What if I still need a vaccine?

You can schedule an appointment at the Mississippi State Department of Health drive-thru site in Lafayette County, which is at the National Guard Armory/Oxford Conference Center at 102 Ed Perry Boulevard. Here's how to schedule off-campus appointments:

MSDH COVID-19 Vaccination Drive-Through Scheduler application
COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center, 877-978-6453 or 601-965-4071, or
Local vaccination providers

If you have questions about finding an appointment, email c19@olemiss.edu. If you got your first dose on campus and need to reschedule your second dose, reply to the confirmation email you got when you made your first appointment. See the university’s vaccination webpage for more.

Let me see ya

Wherever or whenever you get your vaccine, share your selfie with #getvaxxedbydamn! It's a moment.

Questions?

How old do you have to be to get it? Over 16 in Mississippi.

Can I get it if I’m an out-of-state student? Yes! The ‘Sip claims you if you live here for school and you can use your Oxford/campus address when you register.

Do I need it if I’ve already had COVID? Yep. The vaccines can protect against COVID variants that you may not have had, and your immunity from COVID may not last very long.

What is getting the vaccine on campus like? People who have already gone have said vaccinations at the Tad Pad are SO easy! Trained student pharmacists under the supervision of a clinical pharmacist will give you the vaccine, and they can answer questions, give you a thumbs up and hold your hand if you need it. Then they’ll give you a sticker and help you take your photo. After you get your vaccine, you’ll sit in an observation area for 15 minutes for monitoring and then you’re done! Here’s more about on-campus appointment logistics info.

Actually, I have different questions.

We know some of y’all have heard things about the vaccine that make you nervous. Let’s see if we can address some of them.

I heard: that vaccines are linked to infertility or other pregnancy problems. Infertility or pregnancy issues can, unfortunately, be difficult to predict. But fortunately (🎉) there’s no evidence that links those issues to the vaccine! You can read more about it from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists here or read a less sciencey version from WebMD here.

I heard: the vaccine was developed too quickly to be safe. mRNA technology has actually been in the works for decades. There were also other circumstances that helped these vaccines move quickly like literal worldwide cooperation, lots of funding and the fact that COVID wasn’t the first ever coronavirus.

I heard: that the vaccine is not FDA-approved. The FDA has given three vaccines Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). This means the FDA is confident that the vaccines are effective, but it wants more time and scientific evidence to give them the official approval.

Still have some concerns about getting vaccinated? Tell us what you’re worried about.

Your friend got the vaccine and the worst side effect is that they won’t stop talking about it.

Get ready for that to be you, though! Here’s what some other students who got the vaccine shared about why they got it:

🎓 “I don't want COVID-19 to steal another semester of in-person classes from me!”

💖 “I want to be able to see my friends and family safely!”

🩺 “I [am] very susceptible to lung and sinus infections and when I have them it gets pretty bad for me.”

SOP shoutout

Ole Miss has given first doses of the Pfizer vaccine to over 2,300 people on campus! THANK YOU to our School of Pharmacy faculty, staff and students who have been working so hard to run UM’s vaccination site safely and efficiently!

If you still need to register for a vaccine, you can get an appointment off-campus one of these ways:

MSDH COVID-19 Vaccination Drive-Thru Scheduler
COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at 877-978-6453 or 601-965-4071, or
Local vaccination providers

Got it ✔️now what?

You’re technically fully vaccinated two weeks after your last dose. After that, here are the guidelines. Until then, keep doing what you’re doing because you’re SO CLOSE! Tell us about why you got it!

Non-vaccine announcements and reminders

Join the University Counseling Center at the Inn at Ole Miss Ballroom for suicide prevention training, free for all students. The undergrad session is Wednesday, Apr. 7, 2-4:30 p.m. and the graduate student session is Thursday, Apr. 8, 2-4:30 p.m. Sign up here.

Students can apply for the HELP Grant, which pays up to full tuition for students attending Mississippi public colleges and universities. Apply at www.msfinancialaid.org by March 31. See here for more info about eligibility and contact sfa@mississippi.edu or 800-327-2980 with questions.

Graduate instructors and TAs can earn $500 by developing ways to include writing and critical thinking classroom.

Win prizes and peace of mind when you sign up for asymptomatic testing.

If you know of a staff or faculty member who has gone above and beyond to help a student in the past year, nominate them for the Thomas Frist Student Service Award. Nominations are open through Apr. 5.

Register here by Mar. 29 at 5 p.m. for Free Speech and the Inclusive Campus: How do we Foster the Campus Community we Want?, happening online Tuesday, Mar. 30, 4-5:15 p.m.

Hiring on campus

Student Housing is hiring a Community Desk Assistant. Apply here.

Let’s make this a 2021 reality 🔴🔵

See past issues and subscribe to The Powder Blue here.

FOLLOW OLE MISS

To contact us or submit content, events or announcements, email thepowderblue@olemiss.edu. Interested in receiving this newsletter? Use this sign-up link for weekly issues of The Powder Blue.

Student contributors to The Powder Blue: Maddie Scales and Maren Martfeld

This newsletter was developed in consultation with University Health Services.

Opt out of emails from The University of Mississippi. If your email address is subscribed to other school/department mailing lists, you may still receive emails from The University of Mississippi. To stop receiving all email communication from The University of Mississippi, please email our records department at records@olemiss.edu

Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

651 Grove Loop
University, MS | 38677 United States

This email was sent to sydney@olemiss.edu.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.