In an effort to try and alleviate any distress caused by COVID-19, MSU will require undergraduate students living on campus or engaging in on-campus activities next semester to receive a flu shot.

MSU President Samuel L. Stanley sent an email Thursday afternoon that highlighted several ways the university will try to remain safe next semester as COVID-19 still spreads. One of those ways was a mandatory flu shot for on-campus undergraduates.

Along with mask-wearing, social distancing, hand washing and participating in contact tracing programs, MSU Deputy Spokesperson Dan Olsen said requiring flu shots is another way MSU is trying to make its community safer.

Students can get a vaccine from Olin Health Center. More information on how MSU will enforce its flu vaccine policy is expected to come in the following weeks.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced an executive order to create a bipartisan Protect Michigan Commission that will educate Michiganders about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Whitmer also gave more information about COVID-19 vaccination availability at the presser. Critical workers in health care systems, including hospital workers and first responders, are among the initial group to receive the vaccine.

MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said that based on federal estimates, Michigan could get 84,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 173,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine in the first shipment.

The Municipality Equality Index gave East Lansing a perfect score for how LGBTQ+ inclusive the city is.

The MEI focuses on how inclusive municipal laws, policies and services are for LGBTQ+ community members. Specific criteria include: non-discrimination laws, the city as an employer, LGBTQ+ services, law enforcement and the city leadership’s position on equality.

Ann Arbor, Detroit and Ferndale also had perfect scores, with the other seven Michigan cities ranging between 16 and 92 points.

After hiring Elaine Hardy, East Lansing’s diversity, equity and inclusion administrator in June, the city has made decisions like declaring racism a public health crisis and banning conversion therapy.