While COVID-19 vaccines are now mandated for all students, faculty and staff, many students had already chosen to get vaccinated prior to the mandate. In Oakland County, 56% of the population is fully vaccinated.

On Thursday morning, I walked around campus and asked students the following questions: Are you vaccinated? If so, what factors played into your decision? Did you get vaccinated for yourself and/or for others? Here are their responses.

Alivia English, Linguistics

“I am vaccinated. I did it more for other people because I know a lot of my friends and family are really nervous about COVID, so I didn’t want to spread it to them. So, I did it more for others.”

Jonathon Esbri, Computer Sciences

“I’m fully vaccinated, and I mainly did it just to have peace of mind about it because I wasn’t really too concerned about contracting [COVID-19] but spreading it to other people. I want to be able to hug my grandma and all that. That’s pretty much the whole thing about it. I’m kind of in a situation where I don’t care too much about my body, which is kind of sad to say, but I definitely don’t want to affect other people.”

Sarah Hayes, Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences

“I am fully vaccinated, and I chose to do so because myself and my family members and friends have underlying conditions, so I felt it best to get vaccinated to protect myself.”

Kevin Cornwell II, Music Education

“I am fully vaccinated. I chose to be fully vaccinated because I lost a lot of family members to COVID, and I have some previous health conditions as well, so I felt it was best for me to get the vaccine.”

Maggie Colangelo, Business and Marketing

“I am fully vaccinated, and I did so because of my grandmother. She is diabetic. She contracted it and was in the hospital for about two weeks. Seeing that is very scary, and I don’t want anyone else to go through that, so I did it for myself and for others.”