Ahead of summer sessions and the fall semester, the University of Central Arkansas is encouraging students to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Vaccinations represent the best opportunity for life to return to normal. Since April 6, all Arkansans ages 16 and older, including all UCA students, are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments are currently open at UCA Student Health, where the two-shot Pfizer vaccine is available.
Schedule an appointment
The process to get an appointment is easy. The vaccine is free of charge, and appointments can be made either online or by calling UCA Student Health.
- Online: https://uca.edu/studenthealth
- Phone: (501) 450-3136
For those students leaving Conway for the summer, be sure the schedule the first vaccine with UCA Student Health before leaving. The second dose can be always be received at a provider in a student’s hometown.
Appointments at UCA Student Health will also be available through the summer sessions, including for current students who are enrolled in the fall semester.
Benefits of being vaccinated
- Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.
- Attend small outdoor gatherings and exercise outside with other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask.
- Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic.
The importance of getting the second vaccine dose
When it comes to the efficiency of getting the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, getting one dose is not enough to gain full immunity.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, getting the second dose is critical in maximizing the ability to get full immunity against the virus. Receiving only one dose is not as useful as receiving the full second dose. Given the spread of the virus and the serious health risk it poses, the second dose is strongly recommended.
People are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series (Pfizer or Moderna), or two weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson).
For questions, please contact shc@uca.edu