As Utica College returns from winter break and ends the second week of classes, the campus inches ever so close to a 100% vaccination rate amongst students, faculty and staff. 

In addition to the COVID-19 vaccination rates increasing at Utica College, the number of those who are receiving the COVID-19 booster shot has significantly increased as well.  

When the 2021 Fall semester began, Utica College added the COVID-19 vaccination to the list of required immunizations for both students and employees of the college. As the 2022 Spring semester is underway, all eligible students and employees at Utica College are required to receive their COVID-19 booster by Feb. 1.

Although the booster shot is now required by the college, unless a student has a medical or religious exemption, the college will continue to offer an incentive to the students who receive their COVID-19 booster shot. The incentive is a $50 Amazon gift card, customized with a Utica College logo.

According to Interim Dean of Students Karen Ferrer-Muniz, the incentive will continue to be offered in an effort to encourage eligible students to get vaccinated and receive their COVID-19 booster.

“The $50 Amazon gift card incentive for students will remain in effect and you will receive your gift card when you submit proof of your booster vaccination to the portal,” Ferrer-Muniz said. “Once the students load it to the portal, they get an email from the dean of students office as a confirmation that we received it, and then they’re eligible for the gift card incentive.”

Ferrer-Muniz also stated that it is very important for students to upload their updated vaccination record to the Student Health Portal or e-mail [email protected], because they are due as soon as possible.

“Please be advised that all students and employees will be required to submit proof of booster vaccination or a physician-certified medical exemption by no later than Feb. 1, 2022 (or your earliest date of eligibility),” Ferrer-Muniz said. “If you recently tested positive for COVID-19 from a breakthrough infection, you are eligible to receive the booster vaccine as soon as you are symptom free and have completed isolation.”

According to Utica College Vice President for Emergency Management Shad Crowe, Utica College continues to maintain a greater than 98% overall vaccination rate, and close to 90% of the eligible community has received their COVID-19 booster.

Crowe also added that at the two recent vaccination clinics that were held on campus, just under 300 people received their booster shot. 

As of Jan. 26, 1,092 students have updated their vaccination record and have collected their $50 Amazon gift card. Ferrer-Muniz said she hopes to see even more students in the next couple days update their record and collect their incentive.

According to a campus-wide email sent out by President Laura Casamento on Jan. 21, she will provide an official numbers update after the Feb. 1 deadline for the college’s booster requirement.

“I will update you on the percentage of our campus community that is fully vaccinated, which will include those who are fully vaccinated and boosted and those who are fully vaccinated but not yet eligible to receive the booster,” Casamento said in her email. 

As Utica College continues to see an increase in vaccinated members of the community, the number of active cases on campus continues to remain low. The updated COVID-19 statistics will be available within the week. Utica College hopes to see more members of the campus community get vaccinated and are actively working with partners to provide more vaccination services on campus. 

“We are encouraging everyone to receive the booster as soon as they are eligible to help prevent serious illness within our Utica College community,” Crowe said. “We are working with our partners at Walgreens Pharmacy, Oneida County Health Department, MVHS and we hope to provide another on campus clinic within the next few weeks.”