Knox Public Health (KPH), in partnership with the College and the Knox County Emergency Management Agency, will host an appointment-only vaccination clinic in the Lowry Center from 9-11:30 a.m. on Friday. 

According to a news bulletin sent on Monday, this vaccine clinic is only available to approved Knox County residents, which include those with qualifying medical conditions, medical and emergency personnel and people over the age of 65.

The email reminded the College community that, per Ohio’s phased vaccination program, college students and those working in higher education are not yet eligible to receive a vaccine at this time, unless they fall within the aforementioned categories of Phase 1A and 1B. The email states that the College is in “regular communication” with KPH and will notify the community about plans for vaccine distribution when that information becomes available. 

“Kenyon is working with the health department on a daily basis, and the issue — which is not unique to Knox County — is that there’s just not enough vaccines,” said Director of Health and Counseling Chris Smith. 

Once that timeline becomes more clear, Smith is confident the College will be able to distribute these vaccines to students. “We have had the highest compliance rate for flu vaccinations this year than we’ve ever had before,” Smith said, due to the mandatory vaccination upon arrival to campus. “We are at this point dependent on what the local health department acquires.”

Though there are still no definite plans for vaccination of students or faculty members, the partnership with KPH is a step in the right direction, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Meredith Harper Bonham ’92. She added that the College is “pleased” to partner with KPH in their efforts to distribute this vaccine. 

Knox County residents who are eligible to receive a vaccine can sign up here.