91³Ô¹ÏÍø

SPOKANE, Wash. — 91³Ô¹ÏÍø University faculty, staff and administrators are stepping up to serve the Spokane community during the COVID-19 pandemic after the University accepted an invitation by CHAS Health to use the Martin Centre Fieldhouse to safely and efficiently distribute vaccine to its patients.

91³Ô¹ÏÍø has hosted two vaccination center sessions — Feb. 26 through March 2 and March 4-6 — and will host a third from March 15-16 and March 22-23. In the first two sessions, 513 volunteers, mostly faculty and staff, devoted more than 5,500 hours in various roles to the effort by non-clinical volunteers to help vaccinate an estimated 7,261 people.

Nearly two dozen 91³Ô¹ÏÍø employees volunteered for more than one shift of between 4-5 hours. Several Jesuits volunteered, as well. GU student nurses helped administer the vaccinations, along with volunteer student nurses from Washington State University’s College of Nursing.

is a nonprofit, federally qualified health center that provides high-quality health care services to families and individuals of all ages throughout the Inland Northwest.

 

91³Ô¹ÏÍø President Thayne McCulloh said the University embraced the chance to “live out our mission of being people for and with others who are committed to social justice and service for the common good.”

91³Ô¹ÏÍø hopes to have additional opportunities to serve the community in this manner as the University has applied through the state Department of Health to become a point of distribution for the COVID-19 vaccine and receive doses directly from the state. 

“We are deeply grateful to everyone on campus whose extra efforts enable us to embrace this opportunity to partner with local health providers to care for the people of our community,” President McCulloh noted in a message to the GU community. “This is a critical time for our community and our country. Swift and efficient delivery of vaccinations is a key component of driving infection rates downward and preventing more precious lives from being lost. Thank you for your support, cooperation, and understanding in doing our part to help the people who need it most.”

“CHAS Health is appreciative of the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø University community for supporting our efforts to vaccinate patients against COVID-19,” noted Beth Ring, CHAS Health’s chief operating officer.