The Comet community will have more opportunities to get vaccinated for COVID-19 with three free events coming to campus, starting on Aug. 22.

The University of Texas at Dallas will host three pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics on campus in the coming weeks for students, employees and the community.

The free events are in partnership with Walmart and require no appointments.

“These walk-up clinics are an opportunity to vaccinate as many people in the University community as possible, especially those who have been looking for resources to get the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Lea Aubrey, director of the Student Health Center. “We welcome friends, family and neighbors, in addition to students and employees.”

Here is the schedule for the vaccination clinics:

Aubrey said the first two clinics were scheduled in conjunction with University events in order to attract students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. The first clinic is scheduled on the day of University Convocation, and the second is during Cometville, an annual event during Weeks of Welcome.

“We want to make sure that this particular resource is available to our students so we can provide an extra layer of protection for those returning to campus this fall. Our responsibility is to keep the entire campus community safe, and one way to do that is to offer vaccines and encourage individuals to participate.”

Dr. Lea Aubrey, director of the Student Health Center at UT Dallas

The Sept. 15 clinic offers an opportunity for participants in the August clinics to receive a second dose, Aubrey said. First doses also will be administered.

Individuals age 12 and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas.

“We want to make sure that this particular resource is available to our students so we can provide an extra layer of protection for those returning to campus this fall,” Aubrey said. “Our responsibility is to keep the entire campus community safe, and one way to do that is to offer vaccines and encourage individuals to participate.”

A limited number of #VaxUTD T-shirts will be available to participants receiving vaccines.

Additional on-campus vaccination opportunities are expected to be offered by appointment only in the coming weeks. More information will be provided to the University community via email.

Safe Return

The pop-up clinics are part of a larger effort to ensure a safe return to campus for the entire UT Dallas community.

Although the University is prohibited from mandating vaccines and face coverings for employees, students and members of the public, UT Dallas encourages Comets to get a COVID-19 vaccine and to register their vaccination status through the University’s voluntary vaccine reporting form.

Comets United

For COVID-19 information at UT Dallas, visit the Comets United webpage.

The University also strongly recommends individuals wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Members of the University community are encouraged to socially distance when possible, cover coughs and sneezes, practice healthy hand hygiene and wipe down frequently used surfaces.

“We are looking forward to returning to a vibrant campus environment for the fall semester, but to do so safely, we need the help of all of our faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Rafael Martín, UT Dallas vice president and chief of staff. “We ask that our community please get vaccinated, report their vaccination status and follow our recommendations for masking.”

COVID-19 Reporting

All students and employees, regardless of vaccination status, should report potential COVID-19 infection, a positive COVID-19 test or close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 using the self-reporting form, which is available in English and Spanish.

Students and employees who have not reported their vaccination status will be required to quarantine if they are considered a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.