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Controversy over the reliability of the COVID-19 vaccines has been in an uproar these past couple of months. Compass was able to interview some SCCC students on their opinions over the vaccine. The responses of the three students that were interviewed varied but not by much. 

The COVID-19 vaccine sparked controversy all over the world on whether it is a reliable vaccine to get. Months after the vaccines have been eligible to the public, SCCC students shared their opinions on the vaccine. And let’s just say, there have been mixed feelings.

“I just think this vaccine came way too quick and I personally don’t trust it yet… They never gave it enough time to fully settle into our system to make sure that we’ll actually be okay, you know?” Sierra Maldonado, liberal arts major said. She thinks that it is best to wait it out and see how the vaccine goes over time. 

While Maldonado, 20, is waiting out to get vaccinated, she said that if colleges mandate the vaccine in order for students to be on campus, it can be good for those who may need it as well as the essential workers working on campus.

“At this time, all students are strongly encouraged to vaccinate,” Cheryl Shaffer, associate dean of the school of nursing said. She encourages students to get vaccinated in order to be on campus for in-person classes.

“The CDC and FDA can be trusted. Their recommendations and information are backed by extensive research and clinical trials,” Shaffer said. New York is the ladder in vaccinations and just with the first dose of vaccines, the infection rate is down.

However, biology major, Natalie Zugel, shares the same opinion with Maldonado on mandating the vaccine for students. “I feel like it would be important to make them mandated since there are new cases popping up every day, and since schools are very crowded places as well,” Zugel said. Since schools are one of the most crowded places, she thinks it makes sense for colleges to mandate students getting the vaccine to be on campus. 

“I think the vaccine is effective, and the more people get vaccinated then the more we will get back to how life used to be pre-Covid.” Zugel has yet to receive the vaccine but is scheduled for her first dose of Pfizer on April 30.

Maria Quiceno, also a liberal art major, plans to get the vaccine as well. “The vaccine is a step forward to ending the pandemic and being able to do things that we used to enjoy before Covid,” she said. 

Quiceno has been struggling the past year with the pandemic due to her dad and aunts living abroad in Columbia. “I haven’t been able to see family abroad because of the border closing and travel advisories,” Quiceno said. Last year would have been her first time seeing them after six years since she moved to the United States.

“Even if the situation with Covid gets better in the U.S., I will still have to wait to see how it is in Columbia…the vaccine distribution there isn’t the best,” she said.

“I miss going out and not having to worry about getting sick or getting someone else sick…I’m getting the vaccine to protect my community and myself.”