Pitt to host vaccine clinic for students, employees

The University of Pittsburgh will host a vaccine clinic Wednesday at the Petersen Events Center from noon to 6 p.m., where clinicians will administer first doses of the Moderna covid-19 vaccine.

Kevin Zwick, a university spokesman, said Pitt received 500 doses from the state Department of Health.

There will be a second-dose clinic in four weeks, a message from Pitt’s Covid-19 Medical Response Office said Tuesday.

“The Department of Health encourages university students to get vaccinated before traveling home—even if you won’t be able to return to the same location for your second dose,” the message reads. “Many clinics are offering second doses no matter where you received your first dose, and we expect these offerings to expand in the coming weeks.”

The clinic follows an announcement last week from the state Departments of Health and Education, encouraging all students at Pennsylvania colleges and universities to receive their covid vaccines before the spring semester’s end.

“The COVID-19 vaccine will allow postsecondary institutions to provide more in-person learning and improve the safety of our campus communities for our students, faculty, and staff,” said Acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega last week. “I encourage all students enrolled in PA’s postsecondary institutions to take advantage of this available resource and get the vaccine before the semester ends.”

Pitt’s clinic this week also comes after several weeks of high case counts at the Pittsburgh campus. The campus has been under shelter-in-place restrictions since March 31 and the CMRO on Tuesday said infection levels were decreasing. Twelve student cases were reported since Friday, along with one employee case.

Two students tested positive in the same time period at Pitt-Bradford, and one student at Pitt-Johnstown.

To sign up for Wednesday’s clinic, students and employees can go to https://pi.tt/vras and use the code, H2Pvax21. The code will expire Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. Appointments are limited, the CMRO said.