Wayne State University has accepted President Joe Biden and the U.S. Department of Education’s invitation to colleges and universities across the country to join the COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge. 

In this massive national effort, participating colleges commit to three key actions to help get their campus communities vaccinated: engage every student, faculty, and staff member; organize their college communities; and deliver vaccine access for all.

The challenge comes on the heels of new federal efforts announced in early May that make it easier and more accessible for Americans across the country to get vaccinated by increasing walk-in vaccinations at local pharmacies; supporting smaller pop-up vaccination clinics and mobile units; providing support for community-based organizations to hire the staff needed to increase vaccine access;  and investing in education efforts about the vaccine in underserved communities, as well as in state and local vaccine outreach efforts.

“We applaud the Biden administration’s innovative and sweeping initiative to ensure that all college and university students, faculty and staff get vaccinated against COVID-19,” said Wayne State President M. Roy Wilson. “We know that the surest path back to normalcy is to get vaccines into the arms of as many people as possible. It’s simply the right thing to do.”

Students can share their excitement about getting vaccinated and encourage others to do the same on social media using #COVIDCollegeChallenge.

Free vaccines are available at Wayne State’s Campus Health Center. Campus community members can now choose which vaccine they want to receive: Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson & Johnson. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines required two doses; the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single dose. Appointments to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be made by calling 313-577-5041.  Appointments to receive either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine can be made by calling that number or online.

To learn more about the College Vaccine Challenge, visit the official website.