On-campus vaccination clinic reaches over 100 at EOU

On-campus vaccination clinic reaches over 100 at EOU

May 13, 2021 LA GRANDE, Ore. – Dance music, free snacks and door prizes greeted the 110 people who attended an on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Eastern Oregon University on May 4. 

The university partnered with CHD, Inc. Public Health, which provides services on behalf of Union County, to provide first and second doses of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. Volunteers and staff from CHD brought supplies and expertise to Quinn Coliseum for an afternoon of serving students. 

“CHD was grateful for the opportunity to partner with EOU on this event that made the COVID-19 vaccine available on campus for the EOU community,” said Carrie Brogoitti, public health administrator at CHD. “We appreciate EOU working with us to set up this fun event that helped us create an additional opportunity for EOU students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated.”

University staff and students ensured that the practice gym provided a clean, functional space with several vaccination stations, as well as areas for health screenings, patient monitoring and scheduling follow-up appointments. Sodexo food service donated water bottles and snacks. 

EOU has conducted proactive testing for coronavirus since Fall Term, and providing free vaccinations on-site removed barriers for many students.   

“The entire EOU community has been so dedicated to keeping campus as safe as possible this past year and focused on moving toward the goal of a complete reopening,” said EOU’s COVID Response Nurse Elizabeth Sieders. “Holding on-campus vaccination clinics was a natural next step toward achieving this goal and to ensure all students and staff had easy access to free vaccines.” 

Sieders hosted informational sessions with Student Health Center staff and reached students in the residence halls to answer their questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Students in the OHSU Nursing program at EOU also volunteered at the clinic, putting their budding skills to work for the community. 

Nearly 100 people are already registered to receive their booster shots at a second on-campus clinic next month. CHD will again offer first and second doses of the Moderna vaccine. 

EOU is collecting feedback from students and employees before deciding whether to require vaccinations on campus for fall term.

Details about EOU’s pandemic response, as well as vaccine information, is available at eou.edu/coronavirus. All adults in Oregon are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination and CHD offers free vaccination clinics every week in La Grande. More information at chdinc.or/get-vaccinated.