Daemen hosted a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on campus Monday, March 29, for its faculty, staff, and students who met New York State’s eligibility requirements.
Daemen’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) has been leading the college’s efforts to battle COVID-19 and stay open during this unprecedented time; the clinic is another example of the team’s dedication to the community it serves.
“Thanks to the great work of one of our team members, Assistant Dean of Campus Safety and Operations Robert Mead-Colegrove, and his relationship with Erie County, we were able to partner with the county to provide this opportunity,” said Dr. Greg Nayor, vice president for strategic initiatives at Daemen College, who is chair of the ERT. “Naturally, Daemen was a perfect fit for doing so thanks to our professionals who are also licensed PAs and nurses.”
Individuals representing multiple areas of Daemen’s community joined together to help make the clinic a success. “The logistics were handled by the ERT with physician assistant and nursing faculty, along with student members of the Daemen College Rescue Squad (DCRS), providing the skill of proper vaccination. Everyone had to be properly licensed and registered with the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) in order to assist,” Nayor explained.
When asked why it was so important to offer this clinic to the Daemen community, Nayor said, “We know that the quickest way we can get back to some sense of normalcy is to achieve herd immunity. Being able to say that 50, 60, 70 percent of our campus community is vaccinated will make a big difference in changes that need to be made.”
A second closed clinic is scheduled for April 19th. With the state permitting individuals age 16 and older to receive the vaccine beginning April 6, Nayor said the hope is to hold additional clinics at Daemen in the future.