Individuals at Marietta College receive vaccinations | News, Sports, Jobs

Photos by Janelle Patterson
Gillian Baker, 19, of Beverly, receives a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine against coronavirus by a Memorial Health System nurse while inside the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center on Marietta College’s campus Monday.

Just shy of 200 individuals affiliated with Marietta College have thus far not thrown away their shot.

Well, their opportunity to be vaccinated on campus, that is.

Dr. Richard Danford, vice president for student life and diversity, explained Monday as students filed into the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center that after the go-ahead from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, at the beginning of this month, vaccination from the novel coronavirus en mass was kicked into gear.

“So on Thursday, April 1, during Gov. DeWine’s state press conference, he announced that all college and universities in the state of Ohio would be receiving doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine to make available to their students,” Danford explained. “This was in the hope that a one-shot before students leave campus at the end of the semester to go home or wherever they’re going — this would help slow the spread of the disease.”

Then, by April 5, the school received notice that its health system partner would receive 1,000 of the Johnson and Johnson vector vaccine specifically for campus administration.

“Our partner is Memorial Health System, so then on April 6, we received notice of shipment,” said Danford. “Then April 7, we held that first clinic.”

Thursday’s clinic saw 147 students and three employees from the no-waste list take the opportunity to be vaccinated, Monday saw another 45 individuals added to that number with 35 students and 10 employees and/or their family members receiving the single dose.

Gillian Baker, 19, of Beverly, was one of Monday’s recipients.

“I’m an education major and so when I’m going to be out teaching in the field with children, I thought I might as well get this,” she said as she checked in for her 5:30 p.m. appointment.

Baker said she’d watched friends’ reactions to the vaccine last week, and weighed the possible side effects with the benefits.

“I think we’re all just ready to get back to normal,” she said. “I just want to help children learn and have a good education like I did growing up, and have fun learning.”

After the slight pinch of the shot in her left arm, and a FaceTime call to mom, she was nothing but smiles.

“I’m very proud of her,” said Baker’s mother from the phone screen.

Protection of mom was also the reason freshman Zach Courtemanche, 19, of Cuyahoga Falls, stepped up in line Monday.

“My mom has an immune deficiency and she actually has to get treatments every other week so I’m doing this for her,” said the young Marietta College football player.

He’s had coronavirus, and transmitted it to his family already in 2021.

“It kept me home from coming back at the beginning of the semester, got my mom, my dad, the whole house sick, I got it from going to my gym,” he said. “But I want this so we don’t go through that again … So I don’t kill my mom. My grandma said Johnson and Johnson are hard to get so when this came up she said go for it.”

Danford noted that some of the athletes still competing this spring are waiting, just in case of negative effects before a big game, but that students are also encouraged to take advantage of Memorial Health System’s mass vaccination site at the Wayne Street Medical Campus.

“Between preparing for All Scholars Week, sports and finals, I know some are weighing when’s the best time,” he said, noting the college is planning for another clinic availability next week when more athletes are willing to participate.

As of yet, though many vaccinations are required to attend the school, vaccination against coronavirus is not.

“Until the FDA officially authorizes the vaccine for something beyond emergency use, our understanding from our legal counsel is that we cannot require it,” Danford explained.

If, and when, that restriction from emergency use is nationally lifted, that guidance may change.

Until then, the administration of the vaccine is free to staff and students, with a primary focus on the student population.

Janelle Patterson may be reached at [email protected].