Montana universities are offering students and staff the one-dose Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine before the end of the spring semester. The clinics aim to inoculate those who may not be on campus long enough for a two-dose vaccine.
Montana State University Billings announced Tuesday that it will be offering students and staff the Johnson and Johnson shot on April 12. The press release did not say how many doses are available, but school and local health officials say it’s important to vaccinate as many students as possible so that they can return in the fall fully inoculated.
An MSUB spokesperson told MTPR this is the school’s first vaccine clinic.
As of Friday, MSU Bozeman spokesperson Tracy Ellig said about 2,000 students and staff had been vaccinated and that 600 students were in line for their second dose before the semester ends on May 1. According to the school’s website, it will be offering Johnson and Johnson shots to students on April 9.
The University of Montana is also offering the one-dose vaccine this week, but those appointments are already full. A UM spokesperson says there’s been strong interest in vaccines from students, but was unable to say how many are fully vaccinated.