Campus only 4% away from reaching 80% student vaccination goal

by Amelia Schafer, Editor-in-Chief

The vaccination rate amongst on-campus students is now only 4% away from the goal of 80%, meaning that only 50 more students need to get the shot. Meanwhile, COVID cases have experienced a slight uptick on campus. 

Campus COVID cases

Four members of the Simpson College community have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week, according to the Simpson College COVID-19 dashboard. 

There are currently six active cases – which include students, faculty and staff. 

The campus positivity rate is identified as 2% – which is the same as last week. A total of 21 campus community members have tested positive since Aug. 23. Currently, no students are in quarantine either on or off-campus. 

The COVID-19 dashboard, which was updated daily, is now updated once per week each Thursday. The dashboard is only accessible to members of the Simpson College community through SCconnect. 

Minor Change in vaccination rates 

Indianola Campus

As of Sept. 30, 76% of the on-campus student body and 85% of faculty and staff have been fully vaccinated – a 2% increase among students from last week.

West Des Moines Campus 

49% of students have been fully vaccinated within the West Des Moines campus – a 1% increase from last week. Faculty and staff maintained a vaccination rate of 91%. 

Countywide cases continue to rise

Warren county has experienced a substantial increase in COVID-19 cases, with 261 new cases reported in the past week, according to the C.D.C. There are currently 507.13 total cases – meaning that it maintains an area with high community spread – sitting at a 14.35% positivity rate, according to the C.D.C. 61.9% of the eligible county population is vaccinated (ages 12 and up), which means that 52.1% of the total population is vaccinated.