Students are finding new ways to get their immunizations as American University has changed its vaccination sites for the fall 2025 semester in light of federal changes to vaccine policy.
In previous years, influenza and coronavirus boosters have been available at the campus Student Health Center. Now, students must go to nearby pharmacies on Massachusetts Avenue or the Walgreens on New Mexico Avenue, resulting in revised vaccination practices for students.
“It’s kind of irresponsible. We’re all living in very close quarters,” Laila Pincus, a freshman in the School of Education, said.
Pincus was able to book her flu shot through Walgreens. However, when they attempted to book their COVID-19 booster, they were turned away and told they needed a prescription.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently overseen by Director of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Historically, Kennedy has promoted misinformation about household vaccinations and questioned their necessity.
Now, the only recommended updated versions of the COVID-19 vaccine are for adults 65 and above or those with pre-existing health conditions. If one doesn’t fall into one of those categories, they can still get their vaccine as of Oct. 7, 2025, with a medical consultation from a health care provider, including pharmacists, about the risks and benefits of the vaccine.
School of Communication freshman Ali Mahlowitz made it a priority to get her COVID-19 booster through CVS.
“My father’s immune-compromised, so it’s important to him that the rest of us get vaccinated just in order to protect him,” Mahlowitz said.
When the pharmacist asked about pre-existing conditions, Mahlowitz said they listed everything from asthma to anxiety, “so I just kind of agreed with one of those. And they’re like, ‘Okay, perfect. We can give you your vaccine today’,” Mahlowitz said.
Although the health center offers appointments to receive a prescription for a COVID-19 shot, as of fall of 2025, they no longer offer the immunizations themselves. Although, according to the AU Student Health Center website “all students are strongly encour[a]ged to get vaccinated against influenza.”
In a statement to The Eagle, Assistant Vice President and Deputy Chief Communications Officer Elizabeth Deal said, “American University is committed to ensuring timely access to flu and COVID-19 vaccines to protect the health and well-being of our students,” and that “for students facing administrative or logistical challenges, the Student Health Center is available to provide assistance with vaccine access, insurance questions, and care coordination.”
Coti Prato, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences on the AU Health Plan, would like to see the vaccinations stay accessible to as many students as possible. The Student Health Insurance Plan allows students to receive insurance coverage through the University’s Student Health Center.
“The fact they made it free and accessible is, in my opinion, something everyone should have access to. Since it’s what healthcare should be,” Prato said.
The Health Center provides links to book appointments through CVS and Walgreens, but Prato would like to see increased access to information for further support.
“The fact that I didn’t even know about [their] COVID or flu shots feels like a clear answer,” Prato said.
For students, with winter in full swing, the shift in vaccine availability holds implications.
“I was thinking about this, it’d be like, if one person on my floor gets COVID, the entire floor is gonna have COVID,” Pincus said.
This article was edited by Cara Halford, Abigail Hatting and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Emma Brown, Avery Grossman and Ava Stuzin.
