As state expands vaccine eligibility, University awaits supply for vaccination site; Protect Purdue protocols remain in place

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Indiana Department of Health has notified Purdue that it can soon serve as a vaccine distribution site for students once supply is granted and on-hand — another major step toward a return to normalcy in our yearlong battle against the pandemic. The University is estimating opening its clinic between April 3 and April 10, accordingly.

Campus leadership and the Protect Purdue Vaccine Allocation Task Force are working closely with the Office of the State Health Commissioner. As soon as vaccine supply is made available from the state, Purdue will open its free vaccination clinic and provide details on scheduling. Based on IDOH guidance, the campus site will prioritize students, especially those leaving campus when the spring semester ends on May 8, while taking proactive steps to ensure all doses are put to use. All students, regardless of residency, will be able to utilize the campus site, which will be located at the Cordova Recreational Sports Center.

In addition, the state has announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be available at no cost to individuals 16 and older beginning tomorrow (March 31) at one of the more than 500 sites throughout Indiana, including 18 in Tippecanoe County. Purdue continues to encourage all Boilermakers to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. Visit https://vaccine.coronavirus.in.gov/ or call 211 to find vaccine clinics and make an appointment.

“At the end of in-person instruction in November, we gave all students the opportunity to be tested for COVID-19 before returning home. Thanks to the state and the Office of the State Health Commissioner, it is now our utmost hope that we can give a majority of our students, if not all, the opportunity to be vaccinated as we conclude this semester. We will do all that we can to help make this happen; the critical factor is how much vaccine supply we receive and when,” said Willie Reed, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Vaccine Allocation Task Force chair in a message to students on Monday.

Purdue was one of the first universities to commit to reopening campus in 2020 and, since the fall, has been as open, densely populated, and operational as any campus even close to its size while taking measured and necessary steps to protect its campus community.

In order to protect the Purdue community and its neighbors, Purdue will continue to operate according to the Protect Purdue Pledge and current guidelines on masking, social distancing and gatherings through at least spring commencement ceremonies. Those who have been fully vaccinated also are asked to continue participating in the campus surveillance testing effort.

Once Purdue faculty, staff and students have been fully vaccinated, they also are encouraged to participate in a new verification to assist in Protect Purdue efforts to keep the campus community healthy and safe.

Through a brief Qualtrics survey, those who have fully completed their COVID-19 vaccination — two shots of Moderna/Pfizer or the single dosage of Johnson & Johnson — can upload an image of their vaccine verification card and communicate any related details to Purdue. 

The Protect Purdue Health Center will use this information to provide care and guidance for the campus community, specifically related to ongoing testing, quarantine and isolation, and when fully vaccinated individuals have been exposed to the coronavirus.

More Purdue information about the COVID-19 vaccine, vaccine eligibility and the Purdue COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Task Force is available on the Protect Purdue website.