Fall semester is here, and while we are beginning this fall in a better position than last year — testing is widely available, the medical community has learned how to better treat COVID patients and personal protective equipment is no longer in short supply — the Delta variant continues to spread rapidly.
As more people arrive on campus, those of us in health care settings are seeing a sharp increase in calls to our clinics and visits to our testing sites. It is a scenario we have seen before, and it is not one we are thrilled to revisit. For us to have an uninterrupted fall semester, we must each take personal responsibility for ourselves and encourage those around us to do the same.
Get vaccinated.
If you are not vaccinated, I am asking you to do so immediately. Vaccinations will help us stay in the classroom, fill Jordan-Hare this fall and keep yourself and those around you healthy. Infections are rising among younger people — including college-aged people — and almost all hospitalized patients are unvaccinated.
The vaccine is free, safe and readily available on campus. There will be a pop-up vaccine clinic in the Melton Student Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 18, and appointments are not needed. Make a plan to receive the shot and encourage your friends to do the same. Once you are fully vaccinated, be sure to enter to win incentives for taking this important step.
Wear your mask.
Face coverings are the most effective non-pharmaceutical way to mitigate virus transmission. They protect you and those around you, and we need the extra protection to help keep the Delta variant at bay. Auburn’s indoor mask mandate is a temporary requirement, but it is necessary to keep the campus community healthier.
Get tested and self-report.
Given the virus’ rapid spread and tendency to infect close contacts, it is essential to get tested if you are symptomatic whether you are vaccinated or not and have been or could have been exposed to someone with COVID. To make an appointment to get tested at the Auburn University Medical Clinic, call 334-844-9825. If you test positive, be sure to complete the Self-Report Form.
Each of us has a responsibility to help keep Auburn healthier this fall, and by committing to following these simple but crucial guidelines, we increase our chances of an uninterrupted semester.
Dr. Fred Kam is the director of the Auburn University Medical Clinic and an Auburn graduate who has worked at the clinic since 1997.
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