UMass Amherst Joins National COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge

UMass Amherst is joining with nearly 600 colleges and universities to participate in the COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge, a new initiative by the White House, the U.S. Department of Education and the American College Health Association.

In a message to the campus, Public Health Promotion Center Co-Directors Ann Becker and Jeff Hescock said, “We need your participation and support! Please join us in this drive to get as many people as possible vaccinated in the coming weeks. For students, acting now will meet a UMass Amherst vaccination requirement: all undergraduate and graduate students who wish to live or learn or conduct research on campus, or access campus resources, must be fully vaccinated prior to the beginning of the fall semester (subject to religious and medical exemptions). The College Vaccine Challenge is part of a larger White House initiative to have 70% of U.S. adults vaccinated by July 4.”

Ways to Get a Vaccine

There are plenty of ways to get vaccinated in the Amherst area, in Massachusetts and across the United States.

Vaccinations are available at the UMass Vaccine Clinic in Amherst on the lower level of the Campus Center on a walk-in basis or by appointment. Here are our hours of operation. Through June 24: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 29-July 29: Tuesday and Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m.; Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In Massachusetts use VaxFinder.mass.gov to search for appointments at local pharmacies, supermarkets, healthcare providers and other community locations.

Outside of Massachusetts visit vaccines.gov to search for vaccines near you.

Students should remember to keep their vaccine administration record and upload any COVID vaccines they receive elsewhere to the UHS patient portal.