Southeastern Oklahoma State University has partnered with the Oklahoma State Department of Health to host a COVID-19 vaccination event on the Durant campus. The Pfizer vaccine will be offered free of charge to all Southeastern students, faculty, staff and alumni.

The first dose will be administered on Wednesday, March 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Glen D. Johnson Student Union. The second dose will be available Wednesday, April 28. Participants must bring a valid photo ID along with their Southeastern ID to their appointment.

Vice President of Student Affairs, Liz McCraw, stated that Southeastern has been waiting for the opportunity to offer vaccines on campus ever since it became available.

“We’re ready,” she said, “we want to get it into the arms of the community.”

The procurement of the vaccines has been a group effort between Southeastern’s COVID-19 Task Force, the Oklahoma State Health Department and the Bryan County Health Department.

McCraw explained that the goal of this event is to protect the campus community and to allow life to return to normal in a shorter period of time. “We can get back to normal more quickly if we have the opportunity to put vaccinated people into our classrooms and in our community,” she stated.

Not only are current members of the campus community eligible to receive the vaccine, Southeastern has also opened the event to retired faculty and staff, fully online students and alumni in Bryan County who might interact with students in local businesses.

The university is planning to provide as many as 500 vaccinations during campus distribution. McCraw shared that a little over two hundred people have already registered, but appointments can still be made up until 2 p.m the same day.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred for those who need to get in and out quickly.

The convenience of this event being on campus and free of charge is what makes officials hopeful for high participation. The ease of walking into the Student Union, showing an ID and simply getting the shot allows little room for excuses, according to McCraw.

Going with a friend, roommate or co-worker may help in calming nerves, but may also encourage those who may not know they want the vaccine until they see their peers and loved ones getting it. “We can all stand in solidarity and get it done,” declared McCraw.

To secure an appointment, visit www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0445A4AC29A7FE3-covid.

For more information regarding the vaccination event, please contact the Office for Student Affairs at (580) 745-2080 or by email at [email protected].