TWU Student Health Services administers COVID-19 vaccine

Jan. 5, 2021 — DENTON — Texas Woman’s University Student Health Services started the new year by administering its first COVID-19 vaccine to members of the TWU community on January 5.

The university applied to be a vaccine provider and received a limited allotment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during the second week of the Texas Department of State Health Services’ distribution schedule. TWU’s vaccine rollout follows guidelines established by DSHS with its allotments earmarked for the TWU community.

“We are following the state’s priority protocols for administration and are working to identify faculty, staff and students who are included in the highest priority group, referred to as Phase 1A,” said Monica Mendez-Grant, Ed.D., vice president for Student Life at TWU.

TWU has long been known for its health care programs, and many of the university’s 16,000 students as well as faculty and staff meet the Phase 1A eligibility requirements. Both tiers in Phase 1A include not only physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, etc., but also other clinical and support staff having direct contact with patients or infectious materials.

Zaynah Delucca, a nursing major from Dallas who will start her women’s and adult health rotations at Parkland and Baylor University Medical Center next week, received the first dose of vaccine administered at TWU. 

When asked why she opted to get vaccinated at TWU, she quickly answered, “I trust TWU. The university always does everything they can for students, and I felt it was the best place for me--even if I had to drive an hour to get here.”

She said she wanted to get the vaccine for her own peace of mind, so her family would feel more at ease and so that she would not inadvertently transmit the virus to a patient. 

Tanisha Freeman, director of operations for Student Health Services, completed the application on behalf of the university and says that distributing the vaccine to the TWU community is an honor. 

“Being able to keep our student health care professionals working safely on the frontline while continuing their education requirements to become fully credentialed health care workers is so important to the national response to the COVID crisis. We need all hands on deck to get everyone safe and healthy,” said Freeman.

Due to various factors, including stringent refrigeration requirements, all TWU vaccines will be administered on the Denton campus at the Student Health Services facilities. Eligible individuals at TWU’s Dallas and Houston campuses may travel to Denton or may seek other alternatives, including HEB pharmacies.

Initial distribution schedules were determined by identifying students enrolled in clinical coursework and frontline faculty and staff. Additional opportunities for TWU students, faculty and staff to self-identify eligibility will be available in the coming weeks.  

According to Freeman, the university does not know when or if it will receive additional vaccine allocations but will continue the vaccination process in accordance with DSHS distribution guidelines as long as possible. 

“Doing what we can to keep the community of our three campuses safe and healthy is who we are as our students, faculty and staff experience TWU educationally, professionally and as long-term health care consumers,” said Freeman.

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Media Contact

Amy M. Evans
Director of Communications
Student Life
214-449-9757
aevans18@twu.edu

Page last updated 2:50 PM, March 8, 2024