Full FDA Approval Strengthens National and Local Vaccine Efforts
As the fall semester begins, the fight against COVID-19 continues in our world and in our community. Health experts have consistently reported that vaccinated individuals are better protected from severe illness than unvaccinated. As a member of the Baylor Family, you have convenient access to vaccines on our campus. Scheduling a vaccine appointment is easy, and all three of the vaccines are available through the Baylor Health Center:
- Pfizer-BioNTech – FDA Fully Approved for ages 16+, FDA Authorized for Emergency Use for ages 12-15
- Moderna – FDA Authorized for Emergency Use
- Johnson & Johnson – FDA Authorized for Emergency Use
Vaccination efforts received a boost with the full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23. This approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is significant. According to the FDA, "the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product."
All three of the vaccines have shown consistent ability to lessen symptoms, lower the viral load carried by infected individuals and help mitigate the risk of experiencing the most severe or even fatal results. Baylor has obtained ample supplies of all three vaccines, with individuals having the freedom to choose which vaccine they would like or to accommodate a certain option recommended by their physician.
"There is now data from more than a billion people around the world who have received COVID vaccines," said Benjamin Ryan, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor at Baylor. "This is providing powerful evidence that there is little chance of long-term side effects. The vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are some of the most effective vaccines developed."
While previous variants of the virus showed less of a threat to young adults, the most invasive and emerging variants – including the active delta variant – are proving more robust across all ages.
"Getting your vaccine is the best way to ensure that you get to experience a robust and exciting school year," said Sharon Stern, MD, Medical Director of Baylor Health Center. "If you get sick and have to miss an extended amount of class, your grades may suffer. You may make others sick and miss out on many of the fun activities and opportunities to deepen your connections with your classmates and your University. Vaccines are a safe and effective way to ensure your Baylor experience is not sidelined by COVID-19."
With hospitalizations in the city rising from 10 to nearly 200 in less than two months and 100% occupancy of the county's ICU beds for critical COVID-19 patients, it has never been more crucial for the Baylor Family to be vaccinated to protect each other and our surrounding community. Our hospitals are overrun. Our healthcare workers are exhausted. We can do our part to love each other and our community well by getting vaccinated today.
In addition to daily appointments from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Baylor Health Center, several pop-up Vaccine Clinics have been scheduled at upcoming events:
- Wednesday, August 25
- Mosaic Mixer Vaccine Clinic, 6-8 p.m. (No pre-registration is required. Just walk in.)
- Bill Daniel Student Center (SUB)
- Barfield Drawing Room (2nd Floor)
- Friday, August 27
- Late Night Vaccine Clinic, 8-11 p.m. (No pre-registration is required. Just walk in.)
- McLane Student Life Center (SLC)
- Baylor Health Center (2nd Floor) *Clinic held in conjunction with Late Night event, the showcase of student organizations.
- Vaccine Resources:
- VaccineFinder: A free, online service that assists in finding locations where the COVID vaccine is available.
- The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District also provides local vaccine information on its website.
For more information about vaccines at Baylor, or to upload your completed vaccination record for exemption from twice-weekly testing, visit baylor.edu/vaccine.