New York residents 16 and over will have the chance to get the COVID-19 vaccine beginning today, including college students from across Long Island.

Stony Brook University kicked its efforts into gear right away with plans to vaccinate 1,400 students who live on campus over just a 10-hour period. The effort is taking place at the Student Union.

Students who signed up for the first round Tuesday received the Moderna vaccine.

Stony Brook officials say the demand to get vaccinated was great, with the 1,400 appointments booked in about an hour. They say their goal is to vaccinate as many students as possible by finals week.

The university is set to vaccinate an additional 1,500 students Thursday and Friday. If the campaign goes as planned, over half of those living on campus will be vaccinated by the end of the week.

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Only about 40% of Stony Brook University students lived on campus this semester amid the pandemic, but officials say they hope that number will go back up into the 90s for the fall.

Stony Brook will eventually open the vaccination campaign to commuters and those who live off campus.

Local health experts have said it's important to vaccinate as many people as possible, and specifically with students, it will help them from becoming super-spreaders.

It isn't just college students who became eligible in New York Tuesday -- it meant some high school students as well.

"It makes me feel more comfortable to know how it's going to work, what's going to happen afterwards, and I know it's definitely made my family feel more comfortable with being around each other again," says Gillian Wustenhoff, a high school junior from Medford. "I'd rather feel a little sick the day afterward than not see my family again."

Options for those looking to book an appointment include county-run sites like the Nassau Coliseum, state-run sites like Jones Beach and stores like CVS and Stop & Shop, although Stop & Shop says its efforts are limited to those 18+.