Student Health Center Assistant Director Nancy “Danette” Dover shared information about the current Lamar vaccine and COVID testing situation in an interview Friday, Sep. 24.
For any students who wish to obtain their own vaccine or have a COVID test done, they can schedule an appointment with the SHC on the Lamar website or they can call the SHC number.
“Once you get a vaccine, that information has to be put into a Texas state site and is tracked,” Dover said. “We give you your vaccine card which lists the days of your vaccine, what vaccine you got, and the lot number.”
COVID vaccines may be taken by all Lamar students, faculty, and staff and are free of charge. However, the general public outside of Lamar may not receive the same services from the SHC, mainly due to them not being in the banner system.
The SHC also offers COVID testing which can be done with two methods. The polymerase chain reaction test, or PCR, and the rapid antigen test are both done through nasal swabs on each side of the nose, Dover said. The SHC does not currently do saliva COVID tests. Compared to the PCR test, the rapid antigen test produced results in about 15 minutes, rather than with PCR test which may sometimes take three or four days. As of this moment, COVID testing is not offered to Lamar faculty or staff. For students, COVID testing can be offered free of charge.
“We will keep doing the vaccine for as long as it is needed,” Dover said. “It all really depends on what COVID does and I do not see testing going away.”
For the foreseeable future, the SHC will continue to offer COVID vaccines and testing she.
“Taking a vaccine is a personal (choice) and even though I encourage people to do that, that is a decision you have to make on your own,” She said, “Regardless of that decision, the decision needs to be respected.”
At the Student Health Center, or SHC, there are currently two types of COVID vaccines being offered, which are Moderna and Pfizer. Dover said that both Moderna and Pfizer are the same type of vaccines and the main differences between the two deal with how they are prepared, such as how Pfizer needs to be mixed, while Moderna is already in the vial. With Moderna, after the first shot, the person may need to wait about four weeks before getting the second shot. With Pfizer, after the first shot, the person may only need to wait about three weeks before getting the second shot.
“Once Pfizer got their FDA approval, we saw a large interest in Pfizer and I think a lot of people were waiting for that,” she said. Both Moderna and Pzifer have seen positive responses.
Students can ask medical personnel at the SHC about any questions they may have related to the testing and vaccines offered there.
“I suggest, research and educating yourself about the vaccine,” she said. “On social media, there is a lot of false information.”
For students who live in the dorms and test positive, they can then self-report, and afterwards they are encouraged to tell their resident advisor, or RA. Arrangements can be made for food to be delivered, and they are encouraged to self isolate. If the student has a roommate, they are encouraged to inform their roommate and isolate as best as they can in the same environment.
“If done the right way and you keep everything clean, wash your hands, sanitize, wear a mask, you can keep other people from getting sick.” Dover said, “It can be done.”
Shared spaces such as the common area or bathrooms can be sanitized and cleaned after every use or daily, depending on the circumstances.
“Our nurses will go and check up on these people, not only about how they’re doing but also (to check on) their symptoms,” she said.
The nurses ask to make sure the student that tested positive has everything they need from drinks, food, and so on. Medical staff at the SHC may also offer other resources and information related to COVID for the patients.
Most patients are given Vitamin C and D, zinc, to aid the immune system. For patients who have asthma, they can be given inhalers. However, each COVID case may differ, depending on the person and their medical history. In the future, the SHC may also begin to offer COVID booster shots.
“If you’re going to be around a big group of people and if you’re concerned, wear a mask,” Dover said, “You cannot get away from good hand washing and sanitizer.”
For more information, call the SHC at 409-880-8466
Or visit, https://www.lamar.edu/students/student-engagement/student-health-center/index.html
Link to published article: https://www.lamaruniversitypress.com/2021/09/health-center-offers-covid-vaccines.php
The Student Health Center entryway on a sunny day, Aug 24.
Ambour Leal 