As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the county once again, Chapman students and faculty had the chance to receive the updated booster shot for 2023-2024 on both Orange and Rinker campuses. 

An email was sent on Sept. 13 to all members of the Chapman community, stating that Chapman would be offering the new booster shot to prevent an increase in recent COVID-19 cases. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that individuals over six months of age should get the new 2023 COVID-19 booster. 

“While the country is seeing an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, the state and local health agencies have not recommended additional prevention protocols be put in place,” the email stated.

The student health department hosted two clinics on Sept. 19 and Sept. 21 for students and faculty members to receive the booster and the flu vaccination on both the Orange and Rinker campuses. The department will also continue to offer masks and test kits to those exposed to COVID-19. 

According to Dr. Jerika Lam, an associate professor of Chapman’s School of Pharmacy, since COVID-19 and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are constantly changing, mutating and replicating, there isn’t a lot of information about the long-term effects.  

“I highly recommend everyone (those aged six months and older and those who have an immunocompromised health condition) to get at least one dose of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine,” Lam said. 

The new COVID-19 booster shot differs from the booster shots in 2021 due to different formulations in the vaccine. Since both SARS and COVID-19 are constantly changing, the vaccines have a lower effect over time.

“It is very important to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine to restore protection and provide enhanced protection against the different variants that are responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in our communities,” Lam told The Panther. “Therefore, the newer vaccines will be better at fighting the current circulating variants and could restore protection against severe COVID-19 infection that may have decreased over time.”

Junior dance major Rose Lindblom plans to get the booster and the flu vaccination at Chapman based on the recommendations made by the CDC and their research on COVID-19. 

“I’m grateful that Chapman provided a clinic to get both COVID-19 and flu shots for free, Lindblom told The Panther. “It made it so convenient (especially for a busy athlete) and a no-brainer for me to go in between classes. I would have definitely still gotten the flu and COVID-19 booster shots elsewhere if Chapman didn’t offer them for free.” 

Lindblom continued: “Getting vaccinated is the best course of action to avoid sickness and keep others healthy.”

As of Sept. 13, Chapman has had 28 new COVID-19 cases, according to an email sent by the Student Health Center. As the flu season nears and COVID-19 cases continue to increase, health precautions have been recommended.

“I strongly recommend for people to restart wearing their face masks in large settings and indoors, especially when they are unsure about the vaccination status of their peers,” Lam said. “Furthermore, I strongly recommend for all of us to continue practicing good hand hygiene, preferably washing our hands with soap and/or using hand sanitizers whenever we can.”