Two Upcoming Events for those Eligible to Receive COVID-19 Vaccinations

Email highlights

• DU and our medical partner, National Jewish Health, will host two events this weekend to vaccinate Denver and DU community members currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
• DU is collaborating with National Jewish Health and community partners to increase equity and access to the vaccine to communities of color.
• DU needs volunteers—especially from multilingual community members—to support outreach, registration and to be available onsite.

Dear DU community members,

I am very pleased to announce that DU, in partnership with National Jewish Health, will offer COVID-19 vaccinations on campus this weekend for eligible individuals, as determined by Colorado’s vaccination distribution plan. DU is proud to serve in this role as we continue to fight the spread of COVID-19. On-campus vaccinations will be available to eligible members of the DU community as well as the broader Denver community. Vaccination will be by appointment only, and National Jewish Health will manage these appointments. It is anticipated that this will be the first of many vaccination events we will co-host on campus with National Jewish Health.

The on-campus vaccination events kick off this week with two sessions. Both will occur at the Gates Field House with parking in the L lot. We appreciate your understanding that traffic is likely to increase. The events include:

 Friday, February 12 | Appointments from 9 a.m.–4:45 p.m.

• National Jewish Health will provide the required second doses for over 900 individuals in Denver, age 70 and older, who received their first doses three weeks ago.

Sunday, February 14 | Appointments from 9 a.m.–4:45 p.m.

• Nearly 2,000 available vaccinations
• First doses available for those in Denver eligible under phase 1A, 1B.1 and 1B.2. National Jewish Health continues to prioritize those age 70 and older and has now added those 65 and older, as well as teachers and others in the new phase 1B.2 category announced by the governor last week.
• More than 500 DU personnel are eligible, including DU community members who meet the state’s criteria for prioritization based on their level of risk and responsibilities, for example, staff over 65, clinical staff, housing personnel, Campus Safety, custodial and maintenance staff working in isolation spaces and people involved in COVID-19 test collection. Teachers and staff at DU’s Fisher Early Learning Center and Ricks Center for Gifted Children are also now eligible in phase 1B.2.

Increasing Equity and Access to Vaccination

Our commitment to equity is a central component of our vaccination priorities and principles as developed by our COVID-19 Vaccination Working Group. Across the country and in Denver, communities of color have received vaccines at much slower rates—despite the fact that these communities have felt the spread of COVID-19 and its disastrous effects more acutely.

We are working with National Jewish Health and community partners—including South High School, among others—to perform outreach to teachers, school facilities and food service staff, and community members eligible for the vaccine who may not have had access to information or avenues for vaccination up to now.

Call for Volunteers

Another important aspect of vaccine equity is ensuring everyone has access to accurate information and support for accessing the vaccine. We are assembling a team to help answer questions—either through over-the-phone outreach or to work onsite during vaccination events. Among those who have already volunteered, we will have volunteers who speak Spanish, Chinese, French, Russian and Arabic on the phone bank and at the vaccination site. Volunteer hours at the clinic will be 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

I invite DU community members to volunteer in this effort. You do not need medical expertise, and your participation is especially helpful if you have experience working in the community or are multilingual. Sign up to volunteer here.

If you are currently eligible based on the criteria of phases 1A, 1B.1, or 1B.2 and have not yet received an invitation to Sunday’s vaccination event, please email COVIDcoordinator@du.edu. While it may not be possible to accommodate everyone this weekend, we will maintain a list of eligible community members and work to accommodate these individuals in the near future.

On-campus vaccination represents an exciting step forward in the fight against COVID-19. We are in the homestretch, but we must protect community members not yet eligible for the vaccine by continuing to practice behaviors proven to slow the virus’s spread: Social distance, wear your face covering and practice hand hygiene.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Haefner
Chancellor