COVID-19 vaccine doses arrive to Pepperdine’s Malibu campus

Pictured above, SHC Physician Assistant Lauren Greenman administers a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine is here — hope has arrived.

The Student Health Center (SHC) was approved as a COVID-19 vaccine distribution site by the California COVID-19 Vaccination Program in early January 2021. The University's first shipment of vaccine doses from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) was delivered during the week of March 8. Feelings of hope and relief filled Pepperdine's Malibu campus on Thursday, March 11, as the SHC hosted its first COVID-19 vaccine clinic.

 "The entire SHC team was excited when we learned we were finally getting vaccine doses to distribute to the Pepperdine community. We believe so strongly in the importance of vaccination that we all became immunized when the vaccine became available to us. In my over 30 years as a physician and 15 years as the lead physician and Medical Director of the Student Health Center, providing this vaccine and hopefully ending this pandemic is truly one of the most important things I have done in my career. Protect yourself, protect your family, protect your friends, and protect your Pepperdine community by getting vaccinated!"

Dr. Lucy Larson, MD, MPH

Medical Director

Pepperdine has received 500 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. So far, over 340 doses have been administered. The SHC is hosting a large vaccine clinic on Wednesday, March 24, where it hopes to administer the remaining doses. On average, the SHC vaccinates about 100 eligible recipients per day when hosting a clinic. Recently, Public Health expanded vaccine eligibility to include new recipients such as those with high-risk medical conditions or disabilities. This allowed the SHC to invite additional community members to schedule their COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

"For the past 14 months, it feels as though history has been in the making. Every time we felt like we were catching our stride or had a grasp of what was going on, something would change. Having the opportunity to serve as a vaccination site for our Pepperdine community has been so meaningful. It really does feel like we are making history — it feels as though we are giving our community hope and contributing to the health and wellness of our Pepperdine family. Hosting the vaccine clinics has refreshed my faith that things will get better."

Rebecca Roldan, MSML

Clinic Director

The University strongly recommends that all Waves get vaccinated. The vaccine helps protect you from getting COVID-19 and may prevent serious illness if you get infected once you are vaccinated. By getting vaccinated, you can also help protect your family, friends, and fellow Waves. All University community members who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine now have the opportunity to register for an appointment to receive the first dose of the Moderna vaccine on Pepperdine's Malibu campus. For more information about upcoming clinics, please visit the SHC's COVID-19 vaccine clinic webpage.