The Impact of the COVID-19 Vaccine at Cornell

By Samantha Krevolin

This week I received an email notification on my iPhone with a subject line that read “COVID-19 Vaccination and Fall Instruction,” and immediately my stomach dropped. This time last year when I received an email regarding COVID and class instruction I was being sent home from my freshman year of college. Like many of my fellow students, I was initially nervous to open the email from President Martha Pollack and Provost Michael Kotlikoff due to past experiences. I have been awaiting a return to normalcy in my college experience for over a year now. I have been wishing all of this time that at least my junior year can finally last the full ten months, and not be interrupted by a horrible deadly virus. Fortunately, I was thrilled after reading the email that a normal semester is possible in the near future, thanks to the COVID-19 vaccine. 

If you received and read this email, you would see there are three possible options for next semester. The three options are titled Herd Immunity, High Levels of Immunity, and Lower Levels of Immunity. All of these depend on everyone within and outside of the Cornell community getting vaccinated, New York State regulations, and CDC guidelines. However, for all of these cases, it seems that vaccination rates of students and faculty are the most important in determining the level of normalcy we will return to. All of these suggestions are closer to normal than our current online classroom situation. However, it is up to us to get the vaccine to make a difference. 

I got my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine this past week. As I arrived back to campus after a long drive to Syracuse and back, I was thrilled knowing I have been fully vaccinated. Through Cornell’s new policy, I uploaded my proof of vaccination, a photo of my vaccine card, to the daily check. This easy task led to great relief, since I know two weeks from now I will no longer feel the dreaded nerves that go along with the possibility of being sent to the Statler; a reason within itself to simply get the vaccine.

Although the future is still uncertain with COVID continuing its course and new variants forming, the main takeaway is that the only way to realistically hope for a more “normal” college experience next year is to get vaccinated. As one can read in Martha’s email, vaccines are required to return to campus for the fall semester for all students, faculty, and staff. This small appointment can lead to classes being held in-person, students gathering in groups larger than ten people, and maybe even no more surveillance testing. Even though it may be hard to imagine a world without the daily check and COVID testing two to three times a week, it is possible that this change can come sooner than anticipated. 

Currently, everyone 16 and up is eligible for the vaccine in New York State. Now is the time that we, the Cornell community, can make a difference. Make a change by doing your part and register now to get any vaccine. All of the options make a difference and can help save our college experiences! Cornell will also be hosting a college student vaccination day at some point this semester, so if you’re on campus make sure to register. Cornell is saving you a trip to Syracuse or Binghamton! Due to Cornell’s upcoming mandate, might as well rip off the bandaid now and get vaccinated so normalcy can come sooner rather than later.