Despite the snow and negative temperatures, thousands flocked to the Ritchie Center to receive a dose of the Pizer-BioNTech vaccine. Since early in the pandemic, DU has partnered with National Jewish Health to take on COVID-19. 

This unique partnership combines leaders in medicine at National Jewish Health with leaders in social science and engineering at DU. National Jewish Health has been conducting DU’s COVID-19 PCR testing (the nasal one that goes up your nose) and providing medical advice and care to the community since October. 

National Jewish Health has been holding vaccination clinics in the parking lot of their hospital since last year, but given the forecasted low temperatures that bottomed out at -6 degrees, this was no longer a possibility for everyone’s safety. DU offered up the Gates Field House as a secure and temperature-controlled alternative.

The operation to vaccinate more than 4,000 people was underway on Feb. 12 with 900 secondary doses. 3,850 primary doses were administered on Feb. 14 and 17, according to Kristi Melton MSN, RN, vice president of clinical business operations at National Jewish Health. 

Dr. Michael Salem, president and CEO of National Jewish Health was inoculating patients at the Sunday event. He said, “When you see the people who come in and how happy they are to be vaccinated, [you can tell that they know] they are stepping up and doing their part.”

The focus of these clinics was to vaccinate teachers, essential workers and persons of color. The event was made possible thanks to more than 200 volunteers from DU’s community of students, staff, faculty and administrators. They braved the cold while they pushed wheelchairs, directed people and disinfected surfaces. DU’s medical director Dr. David Odell even traded his stethoscope for a yellow traffic vest and braved the cold to help park cars. USG president Ryan Hyde spent the day ferrying people from the parking lot to the field house in golf carts. Administrators such as Provost Mary Clark, Vice Provost Jennifer Karas and Vice Chancellors Todd Adams and Leslie Brunelli were directing traffic, scrubbing chairs and passing out information. 

“I can think of no other activity in a time of COVID pandemic that means more to our community,” said Chancellor Jeremy Haefner. “We are doing our part to help those people that are underserved.” 

Many of those who make up DU’s critical staff, food services, custodial and COVID-19 testers were vaccinated during these clinics. I watched as even a handful of RAs and volunteers were able to get a shot with those left over and about to expire at the end of the day. 

Those who received their second dose are considered fully inoculated 14 days following their shot. For everyone who got their first shot, DU will host second-dose clinics on March 5 and 10. The university has planned another community vaccination event on Feb. 25. With more vaccination drives scheduled in the coming weeks, you can check DU’s COVID-19 page for more information and determine your eligibility.