Last week, Indiana University students, faculty and staff received emails and text messages from the Indiana Department of Health notifying them of COVID-19 vaccination availabilities as soon as this week.

IU’s Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall is Monroe County’s primary vaccination site and is administering the Pfizer vaccine, with the two doses offered three weeks apart.

Individuals who are not affiliated with the university are not able to get vaccinated at Assembly Hall.

IU senior Max Smithberg was originally scheduled to get his vaccine in Newcastle, IN. But, once receiving a text from the Indiana Health Department, he was able to get his first dose of the vaccine a month in advance.

“I didn’t really know that [IU] was doing an accelerated program,” Smithberg said. “So I was a little shocked.”

Some students, like IU freshman Gretta Cohoon, jumped at the chance to get the vaccine as early as possible.

“I wanted to get in there and get it done,” Cohoon said.

Other IU students do not see the vaccine as a top priority for them at this time.

“I think it’s an amazing thing and a lot of people should do it,” said Zach Sadaka, IU senior. “But for me, I’m okay not [getting the vaccine] for right now.”

So far, the Pfizer vaccine is the only approved COVID-19 vaccine for people between the ages of 16 and 18.

It is normal to experience mild to moderate side-effects after receiving the vaccine as a sign that the body is building protection. The most common of these side-effects include: pain and swelling in the arm where the shot was administered, fever, chills, tiredness and a headache.

Data from clinical trials show that the Pfizer vaccine is 95 percent effective and offers full protection two weeks after receiving the second dose.

IU affiliates can sign up for their free COVID-19 vaccine through IU’s COVID-19 website.