All adults in the United States are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. At the same time, we face rising daily cases of coronavirus and hotspots popping up around the country. Like we talked about in last week’s email, our goal is to get 70 – 85% of the population vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity and stop the rapid spread of the virus. So how are we doing? Here’s what vaccination rates look like here at Loyola and around the world.

Loyola Community

According to responses from our public health vaccination survey:

Approximately 43% of enrolled Loyno students are vaccinated
About 67% of faculty and staff are vaccinated, with another 3% of employees who plan to get vaccinated but haven’t yet

We still need many of you to fill out your survey and let us know your vaccination plans. Your response is essential to help us plan for a safe return in the fall.

Orleans Parish

According to data from the Louisiana Department of Health:

About 43% of Orleans Parish residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination
Nearly 36% of the city’s population is fully vaccinated

United States

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Nearly 54% of American adults have received at least one shot
About 37% of American adults are fully vaccinated

The World

According to Our World in Data:

More than 1.04 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide
That’s about 14 doses for every 100 people

Check out this tracker from The New York Times to see more data broken down by different countries.

So What’s Next?

While it’s good to see progress, we have a lot more work to do. The decision to get vaccinated is deeply personal, but it also affects everyone around us. We have to work together to bring this pandemic to an end. No matter how you feel about getting vaccinated, we have some ways everyone can take action.

If you’re feeling “meh” about getting vaccinated:

Follow @loyohealthadvocates on Instagram to learn about vaccine myths vs. facts and other resources from your fellow students.
Explore our vaccine page and find more resources from the CDC.
Schedule a chat with our Public Health Coordinators to ask questions and discuss your hesitations with a trained public health professional.

If you’re ready to get your vaccine:

For those staying in the New Orleans area over the summer, make your appointment or walk in at the Convention Center. Check our vaccine page for other ways to schedule your appointment.
Schedule transportation with the Loyola Shuttle by emailing parking@loyno.edu with your name, CWID, and the date, time and location of your appointment. Schedule at least 24 to 48 hours in advance for shuttle appointments. You can also get a free ride from Uber.
Use the VaccineFinder if you need to make your vaccine appointment once you’re back home for the summer.

If you’re already vaccinated and ready to help others:

Make sure you've updated your vaccine survey to let us know your vaccination status. If you need to update your responses, check our FAQ for instructions.
Connect your friends or family members who have concerns about getting vaccinated to
resources and advocate for vaccination benefits.
Explore volunteer opportunities through Nola Ready (no medical experience required).

Preparing to Travel Home

Rapid COVID-19 testing for travel is available to students through Student Health Services only if a negative test result is required by your airline or destination location. No U.S. state or territory is requiring COVID testing for entry.

Traveling out of the country?

Travel restrictions for the destination country vary by location. A list of all countries, their requirements, testing availability, and other COVID-19 information can be found on the U.S. Department of State's website and CDC’s website. Some destinations with notable requirements are listed below.

Call SHS at 504.865.3326 to make your testing appointment, available Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

If you are unvaccinated and would like to get a COVID-19 test as an extra precaution before traveling, please use one of the many free community testing sites available in the city.

Who are you hugging first once you’re fully vaccinated? We want to share your story with the Pack! Stop by the Danna Center to take your picture at our Selfie Station, located next to the Starbucks kiosk, or take your own photo. Email your vaccine selfie to marketing@loyno.edu and share what getting vaccinated means to you.

“I haven’t seen my parents since December 17, 2019 and now that I have my vaccine and they have theirs I can finally make the trip back home to NC to see them!”

—Emma Tucker

Graduate student in the M.S. in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner program

LOYNO > COVID

Everyone has different living situations during the pandemic. Some students are at home, and others live on campus in a “pod” with their roommates. Others live alone, but that doesn’t stop them from feeling the sense of belonging and community Loyola is truly known for. Explore what it’s like to live and adjust to life on campus in these ever-changing times. Watch part two of our video series now!

COVID Connections is a round-up of important information to help keep everyone in our campus community informed and safe. It arrives in your inbox every Tuesday, with special editions on other days if needed. Explore our archive on the FAQ website to see previous editions.

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