Skip to content

COVID-19 Update: Vaccination Update

Dear Emerson students,

In a message we sent to the community this fall, we indicated our hope that when a vaccine was approved by the FDA, our partners in COVID testing, Tufts Medical Center (TMC), would be able provide the vaccine. Since the vaccines were first approved, supply in Massachusetts has been very limited.

As you may know from reading the news, the majority of the vaccine supply has shifted from the hospitals to the state-run sites at Gillette, Fenway Park, Hynes Convention Center, Reggie Lewis Center, Danvers DoubleTree Hotel, Natick Mall, etc.  This shift, for the Spring term, means that Tufts Medical Center will not have sufficient inventory to provide Emerson College with a vaccination clinic as previously communicated. The state continues to have very strict guidelines regarding  vaccine eligibility, which every vaccine site must adhere to. We are continuing to explore the possibility of setting up a vaccination clinic with Tufts Medical Center at the start of the Fall semester should the supply chain opens up.

On March 17, the Governor released an updated timeline of vaccination phases and the general population will be eligible starting April 19, 2021. Due to this date being so close to the end of the Spring term, the majority of vaccines needing two doses with 3-4 weeks between shots (Pfizer and Moderna), and that most vaccination sites require both shots be done at the same location, students and their families should plan to receive the vaccine when they are home after leaving campus and prior to returning in the Fall. Please make sure you keep a record of your vaccine and then log into your Student Health Portal to enter the dates of your vaccines and upload your records. Center for Health and Wellness staff will verify your documentation. 

We know that this is disappointing news; we’ve heard from many members of our community that they were looking forward to getting a vaccine in a now-familiar place. If you have not done so already, and your plan is to remain in Massachusetts after May 1, you can pre-register with the state here for a vaccine and find COVID-19 vaccination sites in Massachusetts.


Thank you for your continued cooperation and please let me know if you have any questions,

Erik Muurisepp
COVID-19 Lead
AVP, Campus Life

(Visited 582 times, 1 visits today)

Leave a Reply