EDINBURG, Texas — The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has high COVID-19 vaccination rates compared to the rest of the state, and has set a gaol to make that rate 100%.
“I tried to tell her as much information as I could. But I was like, ‘It is up to you,’” said University of Texas Rio Grande Valley freshman Christine Silva. From Edinburg, the 18-year-old is discussing how she delicately approached the topic of the COVID-19 vaccine to dormmate Janessa Hernandez.
“It would be in best interest for me and for you if you would get the shot,” said Silva.
Silva is one of an estimated 85% of UTRGV students who self-reported to the university that they took the COVID-19 vaccine. Ninety percent of university staff also reported taking the vaccine.
This stats heavily outperform the statewide vaccination rate of 46%. The Rio Grande Valley region is 57% immunized.
Supported by The White House and U.S. Department of Education, UTRGV recently joined the COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge.
The goal for UTRGV administrators is to help end the pandemic and get everyone on campus fully vaccinated.
In a statement published by UTRGV, President Guy Bailey said, "UTRGV is proud to take on this challenge to help us get back to campus and doing what we love – educating the future of Texas. This is an excellent opportunity for universities across the country to come together to help save lives and end this pandemic.”
Silva said she and college roommate Ayleen Alejo were careful to Janessa’s hesitation to be vaccinated.
“In order to convince her we had to be really encouraging and supportive rather than, ‘you have to get it or you’re going to die,’” said Silva.
Jokingly Hernandez countered, “Are you trying to brainwash me?”
Alejo recalled how misinformation on social media and other sites was distorting medical information surrounding the vaccine.
“I had access to a lot of information, from the other side, like the bad information, you could see how bad, how ridiculous some of these things sounded," she said.
To date, UT Health RGV and the UTRGV School of Medicine have given 100,000 COVID-19 tests to students and community members across the RGV. Since vaccines first rolled out, the university established and maintained several COVID-19 testing sites.
Eighty-five-thousand doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered by the school.
“I feel safer. A lot less stress,” said Hernandez after getting her first dose.