By Charlotte Berg, Melissa Hamilton, & Rachel Krause
As of April 5, 2021, everyone in Wisconsin, age 16 and up, is now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Gov. Tony Evers announced the change at the end of March. According to Gov. Evers, increasing vaccination sites made this announcement possible and quicker than what he predicted earlier in the month.
Figure 1: Pfizer Vaccine with injector. Credit: CDC
Douglas Brusich, Assistant Professor of Human Biology at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, has some knowledge in vaccines and human body reactions.
“Vaccines prompt the immune system to develop antibodies against an infectious pathogen, commonly a virus. The antibodies then protect you against future infection by that same pathogen,” says Brusich.
“Masking, social distancing, and hand hygiene are effective at limiting the spread of disease. These measures do not accomplish the herd immunity necessary to bring the disease under control fully. Public vaccination is the surest and safest way of promoting herd immunity.”
Brusich says the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are the first of a new generation of mRNA vaccines approved for human use. mRNA vaccines are faster and cheaper to make than traditional vaccines.
The Kress Event Center is a vaccination site at UW-Green Bay. It is currently accepting walk-ins at the end of the day for students living on campus. Monday and Wednesday walk-in times begin at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday start at 6:40 p.m. Friday and Saturday times begin at 1:40 p.m. Times are subject to change in the future.
Figure 2: Kress Event Center Parking lot. Credit: Charlotte Berg
Brusich recommends that anyone interested or indecisive about the vaccine should do other research using reputable sources like the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO)
Some UW-Green Bay students are eager for the future after COVID-19 settles down. Two UWGB students recently received the vaccine, each having different reactions.
“I felt sore and fatigued. I had a headache and was nauseous a couple of days after receiving the vaccine,” says Junior Sabrina Vang. “In terms of hopefulness? It’s too early to say.”
Junior Nathan Kieltyka feels the same way. “Things look hopeful, but who knows? There will be people who won’t take the vaccine.” Kieltyka only felt a little sore after the injection but had no other reactions.
Figure 3: Two healthcare workers carrying vaccines in a container. Credit: Cambridge News