By: Michael Adkison
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) — University of Arkansas faculty, staff, and graduate assistants can begin receiving COVID-19 vaccinations as early as January, 18, when the state of Arkansas moves into Phase 1-B of its vaccination process.
Eligible university affiliates—particularly, employees who work on campus—began receiving email notifications of their eligibility on January 14. Those employees must bring that email, certifying their affiliation with the University of Arkansas, to a COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
“Obviously, with a campus of our size, there are a lot of moving parts and considerations, so we ask for your continued patience,” U of A Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz said in an email to university employees.
Phase 1-B of the Arkansas Department of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination plan begins on January 18. As well as university employees, it includes people aged 70 and over and education workers at any level. At later stages in Phase 1-B, other Arkansans can receive the vaccine, including manufacturing workers, grocery store employees, and essential government workers.
This includes most U of A employees. Other employees and students will be eligible in later stages of the vaccination plan.
Steinmetz also said the University of Arkansas is planning to host a large-scale vaccination clinic at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The event, still in its early planning stages, will take place on Saturday, January 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Collier Drug Stores, a local pharmaceutical company, is coordinating the clinic with the university.
“Details are still being ironed out, and we anticipate there will be other future dates available once we pilot the initial clinic,” Steinmetz said.
The university will also host a COVID-19 panel discussion on January 26 to discuss news of the vaccine as well as early plans for the summer and fall semesters.
Pat Walker Health Center has reportedly applied to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine, though it has not been approved. Until then, university employees must visit an outside pharmacy to receive a vaccine.
Vaccination recipients are required to bring their university photo ID, insurance card, driver’s license or other photo ID, and their individualized email from the University of Arkansas to their pharmaceutical clinic.
The vaccination will be free of charge, as the federal government will provide enough vaccines for each state, including Arkansas, at no cost.
Phase 1-B in Arkansas comes at a dire time for the state in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. ArkansasCovid reported nearly 20,000 new cases in the week before January 14, alone.
Washington County has 2,354 active cases of COVID-19 as of January 13, according to ArkansasCovid.
Phase 1-A, Arkansas’ current phase, covered medical professionals, first-responders, and long-term care residents and staff. The Arkansas Department of Health reports that hospitals and other care facilities have given more than 100,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as of January 13.