Beginning next week, the doors of Radboud University are going to open again, but not all lecturers are excited about that. Three lecturers talk about why they chose to give online lectures for now. ‘I would be more relaxed if all students would be vaccinated or – if that is not possible for medical reasons – tested negative.’

Vivienne Matthies-Boon, Philosophy professor

‘I’m very excited about vaccinations, I couldn’t wait to have my shot. Unfortunately, a few days after my first Pfizer-shot, the emergency medical services stood in front of my bed at three in the morning, because I couldn’t breathe anymore. It felt like I was suffocating. Thankfully, I slowly started feeling better after receiving medication, but I continued to have palpitations afterwards and struggled with a feeling of breathlessness for seven weeks.’

‘According to my doctor, I am probably allergic to PEC (polyethylene glycol, ed.), a compound of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations. He advised me against getting my second shot, because the reactions to that are often more severe than to the first one. An allergist now has to determine whether and, if so, when I will receive the second vaccination. This means I’m in a pickle: I want to get vaccinated, but I’m not able to at the moment.’

‘I will have to continue to give my lessons online for a while’

‘Until my vaccination status is determined, I don’t want to give in-person lectures. I know some people who have long Covid and I’m trying to avoid that for myself. This means that I will have to continue to give my lessons online for a while. With a number of preventive measures on campus like social distancing, masks, and vaccinations or testing, this would maybe have been different. It isn’t nice, but it is what it is.’

Mike Jetten, Microbiology professor

‘A lecturer can give much nicer and better lectures with direct contact to the students instead of in front of a computer screen. I received my last Pfizer-shot mid-June and should therefore be well-protected.’

‘Because of my wife’s illness, I visit a nursing home with many at-risk patients every day. Because of that and because of the high infection-rate of the Delta Variant, I continue to keep the 1.5-metre distance, avoid crowded places and put a FFP2-mask on when I’m doing groceries.’

‘I’m not eager to share the often little ventilated lecture halls with 75 others. I still remember the many breaks I had to take during lectures because of the coughing and sneezing of the 200 biologists pre-corona. I would be more relaxed if we had a better ventilation system and if all students would be vaccinated or – if that is not possible for medical reasons – tested negative. Many universities abroad already require that from their employees and students.’

‘Thankfully, I can start my lectures with the history of microbiology’

‘I have the advantage that I’m starting my lectures with the history of microbiology of the 19^th century: the discovery of germs and transmission routes, the development of the first vaccinations, the implication of hygiene-concepts, clean water, antibiotics, and other measures trough which infectious diseases disappeared from the top 10 causes of death in Western Europe. Hopefully, this will convince un-vaccinated students.’

Vitória Piai, Psychology lecturer

‘I have a complicated medical history. Between 2002 and 2004, I received cancer-treatment. Officially, I’m considered cured now, but I’m not as healthy as other people: now and then, I still suffer from strange issues because of the treatments.’

‘We can’t pretend that the Coronavirus is over. The infection rates are still too high at the moment. I know all too well what the virus can do: in my home country Brazil, I have lost family members and acquaintances to it.’

‘I obviously get the demand of giving in-person lectures again, and that the university’s executive board needs to make difficult decisions. But I think it’s too early. Even though I have received both my shots, it is a question of principle to not stay in a lecture hall with 75 students without masks. On top of that, I do wonder whether all of Radboud University’s lecture halls are sufficiently ventilated.’

‘I think it’s still too early for in-person lectures’

 ‘Science has taught us a lot about what is necessary to safely return to university without causing too much damage. Only when this is implemented at Radboud University as well, I will give in-person lectures without a bad feeling again. Students who are attending in-person lectures should have been fully vaccinated for at least two weeks and wear a mask. I would also like to have the guarantee that the lecture halls are being ventilated with a good filter. Many universities abroad already have to meet those requirements.’