Written By: Matt Hirsch
It’s been a year since the COVID-19 pandemic began and vaccines are finally available. President Joe Biden announced that the timeline for every adult to be vaccinated has been moved up to May; two months before the original July projection. The quickened rollout is in no small part thanks to the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
For some Brooklyn College students, there are concerns about the long-awaited return to an in-person classroom. After an entire year of remote learning, CUNY plans on returning to in-person instruction in at least some capacity for the Fall 2021 semester. Although vaccines should be available to everyone, there has been no confirmation on if it will be required for a full re-entry to campus.
“There’s a little bit of skepticism on my part about the vaccine,” said BC freshman Alexander Howe, “Not because I think it’s not safe. But there’s strains that the vaccine isn’t effective against. And you know how quickly a virus can mutate,” he said.
According to the CDC, about 3,100 people in the United States have been infected with an emerging COVID-19 variant, or a mutation that causes the virus to act differently. Though the number is relatively low, a study from the University of Minnesota found that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may be less effective against the B.1.351 variant originating from South Africa, which has mutated to avoid natural immunity responses.
On Mar. 1, New York City shifted into phase 1b of the vaccine distribution plan, adding food industry and hotel workers to the eligibility list.
Some students are concerned about the move back to campus, and what precautions will be taken once we do move back. The college has released a reentry plan, as previously reported by the Vanguard, which has been approved and is contingent on how the pandemic progresses into the fall.
“I would like to see a more coherent plan to make sure every student gets a vaccine and how the administration plans to make campus safe before I feel 100 percent comfortable going back again,” said sophomore Oscar Docavo.
CUNY has confirmed that online learning will still have a larger presence than before the pandemic once classes resume in-person. For students who have a harder time making the commute to campus or have other accessibility issues, these digital resources are a great tool. While others may feel that the college experience just isn’t the same without campus life. However, the safety of students, faculty, and staff comes first.
“I think that it’s a good start that the CUNY faculty and staff are able to get vaccinated. And I hope that it becomes more available to students so that everyone can return to school in the fall,” said senior Emily Ryan. “I think student and staff safety needs to be top priority and that needs to be ensured before everyone can return to campus.”
At a conference last December, Dr. Anthony Fauci predicted that the country could achieve herd immunity by quarter three of 2021. Once that happens, life will look a bit more like it did before the pandemic began.
One thing is certain, though. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, but the United States isn’t out of the dark just yet. The CDC released new guidelines stating groups of fully vaccinated people can meet indoors without masks. Albeit only in a private setting. For now, masks are still a necessity. Though it’s only a matter of time before the old normal becomes new again.