Campus vaccine clinic to open next Wednesday with Johnson & Johnson doses

Updated March 25, 3:20 p.m.: The University will open its on-campus vaccine clinic on March 31, Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz announced at a media availability Thursday. 

This follows Gov. Roy Cooper's announcement Thursday that the rest of Group 4 — which includes students residing on campus and off campus in congregate living settings — will become eligible to receive the vaccine next Wednesday, a week earlier than previously announced. 

UNC will receive 2,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to distribute at that clinic. 

Because the Johnson & Johnson requires only one dose, Guskiewicz said this vaccine option is convenient for students, especially those who may leave campus at the end of the semester. 

Information about how to make appointments will be made available to students beginning Friday. The increased pace of vaccine rollout will contribute to UNC's goal of a more normal campus environment for the fall semester, Guskiewicz said. 

"We anticipate a full return to in-person classes and teaching, with safety measures likely still in place for this coming fall," Guskiewicz said. 

UNC will open a vaccination clinic at the Student Union in the former Wendy's restaurant location, the University announced in a campus email Thursday. 

The University encourages campus community members to get the vaccine when it is available to them. But UNC will not require students, faculty or staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the email. 

North Carolina entered Group 4 of vaccine distribution Wednesday for people with high-risk medical conditions. On April 7, the rest of Group 4 will open, which includes: 

• Faculty, staff and student employees who are not in Groups 1, 2 or 3
• Students living in Carolina Housing
• Students living in fraternity or sorority housing 
• Students living in off-campus congregate housing (such as rented houses and apartment complexes)

Campus Health has been approved by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as a distribution site, but the University has not yet received doses of the vaccine.  

"We hope to receive a vaccine allocation soon — and will send more information about the clinic and how eligible students can schedule appointments in the coming days," Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Amy Johnson and Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Equal Opportunity and Compliance Becci Menghini said in the email. 

To find an appointment through other providers, the University recommends using NCDHHS's My Spot website, which lists providers around the state. UNC Health has new appointment windows opening daily, which can be booked through its Your Shot website. 

The University hopes to gather data on the percentage of the community that has received the vaccine. UNC employees can self-report their vaccination status on a website through UNC Environment, Health and Safety. 

"We are exploring options for a similar self-report site for students and will provide updates on that as soon as possible," Johnson and Menghini said in the email. 

For more information about the vaccine, UNC hosted two town halls on March 9 and 10, available to watch on the Carolina Together website. 

university@dailytarheel.com