University administrators sent a survey about the COVID-19 vaccine to the campus community.
On Feb. 21, the OCU Communications Office sent an email to the campus community with a link to a survey about people’s vaccination status to gather information to assist students, staff and faculty members.
Levi Harrel, dean of students, said the survey was specifically geared toward people who had either already been vaccinated or were in process. A portion of the survey also asked who would be willing to volunteer to distribute the vaccine if the campus were to hold an event.
“We had over 400 people respond that they would potentially volunteer to help,” Harrel said. “And I think that really demonstrates the giving spirit of our campus.”
On Feb. 23, the university sent out an email to the campus community, stating the campus clinic will host a COVID-19 vaccination event on Feb. 27. With 50 doses of the Pfizer-BioTech vaccine available, online registration is open on a first-come-first-serve basis to those who are over the age of 65, K-12 faculty or staff, high-risk according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health or any adult in Phase 1.
“We’re planning on trying to see when and how many vaccinations we’ll get over time,” Harrel said. “Once we know how much we are actually supplied with, that dictates exactly how, when and whom we can vaccinate. The university is committed to prioritizing those who are at risk according to CDC guidelines.”
Harrel also said while our campus community has handled this health crisis exceptionally well, the burden of pandemic fatigue has grown within the last few months.
“As we continue going through this together, I’m seeing continued dedication to our mitigation standards and students being responsible with their social choices, but I’m also aware that there is a growing amount of fatigue. I do understand both things,” Harrel said. “They are navigating the collegiate experience during the most unprecedented time in modern history.”
Ava Karas, music theater/vocal performance sophomore, said she feels the campus’s attitude towards receiving inoculations is one of urgency and cooperation.
“If or when the vaccine becomes readily available to us through campus involvement, I think that so many of our students would absolutely take advantage of that,” Karas said.
Karas said as a transfer student, she has especially taken note of the campus community’s dedication to helping one another.
“I think that OCU students are exceptionally conscious of themselves and of other people,” Karas said.
Karas said she understands the nuance of the situation when it comes to sorting through the logistics of distributing a vaccine.
“This situation is changing every day, and it’s naturally going to be unpredictable,” Karas said. “I feel that we have to be patient and trust that we’ll get through it.”
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