During a weekly press conference, the University of Arizona urged its students to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week.

The university is encouraging students to get a vaccine by Friday so they can be fully vaccinated by the end of the semester, especially if they are leaving southern Arizona for the summer break.

The university has heard many students are hesitant to get the vaccine, but during a Monday press conference, Dr. Richard Carmona, a former U.S. surgeon general, urges them and their parents to go for it.

“It is the right thing to do because it’s not only about protecting your children. It’s about contributing to protect your community and achieving herd immunity," he said. 

Students can sign up for a vaccine appointment by going online. They can also visit the university’s vaccination site in-person for a same-day appointment. 

The university is currently not mandating students get a COVID-19 vaccine, but UA President Robert Robbins said he thought it was a good idea. He does worry  that Arizona state lawmakers might ban public universities from doing so like Florida and Texas have.

“I think it’s a good idea to mandate it but we still have to play the political realities of whether that’s going to happen in Arizona or not. So we’re waiting to see," he said.