San Jose State President Mary Papazian announced the university won’t become a mass coronavirus vaccination site for Santa Clara County, which she first stated could be a possibility in a Feb. 11 campuswide email.
Zobeida Delgadillo, Associated Students president and political science senior, said the decision was made by the county.
“The county decided not to move forward with SJSU being a vaccination site because while the county was interested, they weren’t able to commit to logistics such as [site] staffing,” Delgadillo said.
Papazian stated in a Wednesday campuswide email space was also an inhibitor and the county wasn’t in the best position to install a vaccination site at SJSU.
Kenneth Mashinchi, senior director of strategic communications and media relations, confirmed it wasn’t a university decision and said SJSU has expressed interest in assisting the county’s efforts to help Santa Clara County during the pandemic.
Jennifer Hernandez, a child and adolescent development and education senior, said she was disappointed by the decision.
“It's upsetting because the school is not being used and we are still being charged tuition and services,” Hernandez said in a video interview. “We could at least put these unused facilities to use by opening a vaccination site.”
There are currently 20 county vaccination sites, according to a March 3 San Jose Spotlight article.
San Jose sites include First Street Clinic, Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, Santa Clara County Valley Medical Center, Foothill Community Health Center, Berger Drive Auditorium, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Mexican Heritage Plaza and Story Road Hub.
Hernandez said she wishes vaccines were more accessible because she’s a caretaker for kids with autism.
She said she’s been trying to make a vaccination appointment for several weeks.
According to the Wednesday campuswide email, SJSU employees who live or work in Santa Clara County are now eligible for vaccination.
Only students working in the university’s education sector are vaccine eligible, but the university will update students on their vaccine eligibility once more information becomes available, according to the same campuswide email.
SJSU operations generally remain the same following the county’s transition to the red tier and there have been few changes.
The Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center is scheduled to reopen at limited capacity on March 15 and the Dining Commons is expected to open for indoor dining services at limited capacity on March 22, according to the campuswide email.
