Orange County

UCF to become COVID-19 vaccination site as students return to school

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Students at the University of Central Florida will start their spring semester classes Monday.

They were originally scheduled to return next week, but because of the pandemic, the semester was pushed back.

“I feel like UCF is doing a good job in keeping the campus safe,” said Aiden Scire, a student.

Scire was one of the many students who needed to get a COVID-19 test before heading back for the spring semester.

“I’ve only been here a semester and I can already tell they are making even bigger improvements even then.” He said.

As students return, the school is getting ready to receive a batch of COVID-19 vaccines.

The university has been approved as a vaccination site.

READ: Here’s where to find the COVID-19 vaccine in your county

Starting this week, it will receive an initial batch of 1,000 doses. The vaccines will be available for health care workers, facility, staff members and students who are over 65.

UCF said it has created a mass vaccination plan, which will serve about 4,000 people per day when doses become available.

Vaccine distribution will begin Tuesday at the student health services on campus.

READ: AstraZeneca trials in need of more minorities to participate

However, it is still important to mask up and socially distance.

On-campus classes will be limited, with 61% of classes online or remote.

READ: Orlando Health aims to expand community access with incoming shipments of COVID-19 vaccine

About 39% of classes will include some sort of in-person section.

UCF is working on the details of how people can sign up for a vaccine appointment.

Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.