October 3, 2023

Dear AU Community,

As we enter the fall months, the health and safety of our community is our highest priority and we wanted to share good news with you on the availability of the new COVID vaccines for our community. 

Walgreens at 3301 New Mexico Avenue NW has agreed to provide AU community members (faculty, staff, and students) the opportunity to receive the Pfizer vaccine booster. On Sunday, October 15 and Sunday, October 22, Walgreens will provide booster shots for AU community members only from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. NO appointment is needed, you may walk in and receive the booster. Please bring with you:

1. Government issued ID
2. Health insurance card
3. Original COVID vaccination card (if available)
4. Completed consent form for Walgreens

In addition to the Walgreens opportunity, both flu and COVID-19 shots are also available by appointment at vaccine clinics on campus being held in partnership with Safeway pharmacy. Moderna vaccine boosters will be available for those who have made appointments for the next clinic on Wednesday, October 4. Appointments are available for the clinics on October 17, 23, 25 and 27 in the Butler Board Room, 6^th floor, in Butler Pavilion to receive the Moderna vaccine. Registration is required and please bring your health insurance card and ID with you to your appointment.

Vaccination and booster shots are also readily available near campus, including pharmacies and grocery stores, and can be located on the CDC’s website.

As a reminder the University’s policy remains that COVID vaccinations and boosters are strongly recommended, but not required. We also continue to provide COVID antigen tests to the university community via vending machines located in the Butler Pavilion, the WCL student lounge outside of the Pence Law Library, in the Spring Valley Building lobby, and 4401 Connecticut Avenue building Level 1 parking elevator lobby. Antigen tests are also available to students, faculty, and staff on request at the Student Health Center in McCabe Hall during operating hours. Masks are also available upon request at locations on main campus, the Spring Valley Building, the Washington College of Law, and 4401 Connecticut Avenue.   

Our best surrogate markers for incidence of COVID in our community currently are visits to the Student Health Center and COVID tests administered from our vending machines and by the Student Health Center. We are seeing few cases at the Student Health Center, with most students with COVID-like symptoms having either non-specific upper respiratory virus or strep throat. We are also seeing declining usage of the testing vending machines on campus. We will continue to monitor these markers, and will continue to make tests and masks available to our community.      

Additional COVID information is available online. If you have questions related to COVID, please contact covidhealth@american.edu.

We appreciate your continued support for the health and well-being of our AU community.

Sincerely, 

Raymond Lu Ming Ou
Vice President of Student Affairs

Sarah Baldassaro
Chief of Staff and Counselor to the President and Interim Vice President for Inclusive Excellence