When University President Dr. Robert C. Robbins announced plans for a COVID-19 vaccination site on campus in early 2021, he wrote how the pod was a symbol of the campus community's compassion and service.
"I have said many times that our faculty and staff are here because they understand and embody our land-grant mission to not only educate the students who attend this University, but also to serve the people of Arizona and beyond."
When it came to embracing and exemplifying that message, Arizona Athletics' student-athletes, coaches and staff were front and center.
Literally…
When the women's basketball program returned to Tucson after a historic run to the national championship game, they were met by thousands of fans and campus members at a ceremony at Arizona Stadium. The celebration and recognition of what the program had achieved during its month-long run at the NCAA Tournament in San Antonio ended at midfield with pomp and circumstance.
Then the Wildcats walked the walk of fulfilling the university's mission as a point of pride in the community. Student-athletes and coaches walked from the football stadium directly to the campus' COVID-19 vaccine point of distribution as received their first shot. It was the first step in public support as fixtures in the University's and Pima County Health's campaigns and public service announcements.
It was an early example of the athletics department's compassionate embrace of and alignment with the University of Arizona's vaccination messaging and plans. It mirrored the department's shared and values and aligned strategic initiatives with the University. As all of Southern Arizona was combating the global pandemic, it was Arizona Athletics' "Wildcat Way" approach to everyday thinking, doing and living that propelled its own vaccination work as a first-class example.
"The athletics department diligence with getting student-athletes, coaches and staff vaccinated at a high rate is seen as an example across our campus," said Dr.
Stephen Paul, Arizona Director of Athletics Medicine. "It's impressive that our programs took it upon themselves to make sure their vaccination rates were as high as possible. "It set the right image that this can be done, and it's a vital part of the role athletics plays in the university community."
Arizona Football, under first-year head coach
Jedd Fisch, were among the first college football programs in the nation to reach 100 percent vaccination status in August before the season began. Arizona Men's Basketball followed suit shortly after alongside Arizona Women's Basketball.
As the calendars rolled over to 2022, Arizona's other programs have followed the lead of football, men's basketball and women's basketball. A total of 14 programs have a student-athlete vaccination rate of 95 percent or higher with 87 percent of the entire student-athlete population fully vaccinated.
The high rate of vaccination among Arizona's athletic programs came as a result of a lot of dedication of staff and student-athletes taking the initiative upon themselves.
"The common response I heard from student-athletes going into this year was to do everything in their power to protect themselves, their teammates, and everyone around them while limiting the chance of missing games or matches," Dr. Paul continued. "That was an admirable response by our student-athletes following a very tough 2020-21 season for all of us."
Arizona medical and athletic training staff offered their services for numerous Zoom calls with entire teams as well as individual student-athletes and their families about the importance of getting vaccinated amid any hesitancy.
"Another really important decision, very early on in the vaccination rollout, was our work and research on hesitancy. We used informational sessions, guest speakers and department staff to really address vaccine hesitancy and provide a clear and supportive message."
While student-athletes and coaches were the face of athletics' open embrace and public support of vaccination, Dr. Paul saw many staff who work behind the scenes doing their part as well.
"Even before mandates and requirements were rolled out for university staff, we saw many of our coaches, staff and support staff members getting behind our message to student-athletes and going to the on-campus pod themselves.
Dave Heeke,
Derek van der Merwe and
Krystal Swindlehurst from the department's executive leadership team really helped amplify our message and education to all athletics staff. Those three leaders did a phenomenal job of getting staff members on board alongside our student-athletes and coaches. Many of them walked the walk when it came to getting vaccinated."
It was the campus response to a global pandemic that created the University of Arizona's vaccine pod and ability to serve the public health of the community. That foundational decision by the leadership of the University set the stage from Arizona Athletics to echo the call to action as Arizona was once again leading from the front.
"I have to give credit to what I think was a brilliant strategy by President Robbins as he was able to read the tealeaves early on and realized the impact a point of distribution for vaccination would have on our entire community," Dr. Paul noted. "He was able to serve the local community needs and get the campus community vaccinated quickly and in a very efficient manner compared to other areas of the country. It was a huge haul and a lot of work, but it put the University of Arizona ahead of the curve at a very crucial time."
Then Dr. Paul believes the strategy turned into a true team success story for Arizona's student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans.
"It's a proud accomplishment for everyone in our local and campus communities to see our teams competing in front of fans because it really shows you how far we have come in a year and how powerful teamwork can be during this pandemic."
