Midshipmen Now Eligible For Vaccine; Shots Start During Outbreak

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Midshipmen are now eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, the U.S. Naval Academy announced Monday. School officials added that the shots began Thursday.

The immunization is optional for students because the United States Food and Drug Administration gave it Emergency Use Authorization, not full-on approval. If the inoculation ever gets FDA approved, which would take a longer review, the Naval Academy may require the shot.

"The Navy has prioritized vaccinating the operational forces first," Superintendent Vice Admiral Sean Buck said in a press release, noting that this will not affect the immunization schedule for other workers. "For midshipmen to participate in summer training programs to meet Navy requirements, we need to begin vaccinating them now."

Midshipman Fourth Class Mathew Downey was the first to get the inoculation. The first-year student from Lincoln, Nebraska hopes the shots are a step in the right direction.

"Starting the vaccination of the Brigade of Midshipmen is a great start to [getting back to] normal at the academy," Downey said. "I was sick with COVID-19 and pneumonia earlier this year, so to be vaccinated and halfway to immunity feels great."

(Story continues below tweet)

The vaccinations come after infections spiked on campus.

With quarantine and isolation housing filling, administrators moved 98 sick midshipmen to the Hilton Garden Inn Annapolis Downtown on March 1. The school sent another 98 students to the Graduate Annapolis hotel the next day. Though the exact number of cases on the Yard is unknown, the isolation period should be over or almost over for many of these midshipmen.

Classes temporarily went online starting Feb. 28. Leadership also barred visitation and limited the movement of midshipmen.

Campus remains closed to visitors. Even those with approved access to the Yard should stay away until further notice. For more information on the Naval Academy's coronavirus restrictions, head to usna.edu/COVID-19/.

Coronavirus Vaccine Resources

To see when you'll be eligible for the coronavirus inoculation, read Patch's explainer. Check out our how-to guide to learn how to sign up for the shot. Catch up on the latest coronavirus infection and vaccination metrics in Anne Arundel County by heading to our latest numbers update.

Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Annapolis newsletters and real-time email alerts.

RELATED:

• Anne Arundel Cracks 15 Percent Vaccination; Metrics Remain Pesky
• Coronavirus Vaccine: When You'll Be Eligible In Anne Arundel
• How To Get Coronavirus Vaccine In Anne Arundel County
• Businesses Return To Full Capacity In Anne Arundel County
• Naval Academy Moves Infected Students To Hotel, Classes Go Online

Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.