U of A Secures Back-to-Back Wins in Annual College Flu/COVID Vaccination Challenge

AJ Olsen, director of medical services

From the left: Averi Pick, the Pat Walker Health Center's social media intern; Heather Mercer, executive director of ImmunizeAR; and Breeanne Carter, PWHC's assistant director for marketing and communications.

For the third consecutive year, the U of A participated in the College Flu/COVID-19 Vaccination Challenge, a statewide competition involving multiple colleges and universities in Arkansas. For the 2023-24 competition, the U of A was named the COVID-19 Vaccine Champion and Innovation Award Winner (for the second consecutive year). 

The challenge tasked the U of A to get the most undergraduate students to self-report receiving both their flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccines in an Arkansas Immunization Action Coalition (ImmunizeAR) survey. This year, the university excelled by leading in undergraduate students' self-reports of COVID-19 vaccinations, earning the COVID-19 Vaccine Champion title. The Innovation Award was also awarded and recognizes Pat Walker Health Center's creative approaches used in promoting flu and COVID-19 vaccinations among students, faculty and staff.

Pat Walker Health Center is committed to the health and safety of the campus community, which is why the health center advocates for annual flu vaccinations and updated COVID-19 vaccinations. The health center collaborated with various campus partners, including the Associated Student Government, Greek Life, Housing, the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing and other colleges and departments to execute an extensive marketing campaign. The health center even hosted a Stick and Treat: Flu Vaccine Clinic on Halloween.  

"We are thrilled to have won not only the Innovation Award for the second year in a row but to have also been named COVID-19 Vaccine Champion! Both the Pat Walker Health Center social media intern, Averi Pick, and I put a lot of work into this campaign, but we are beyond thankful to all the campus partners who truly helped amplify our messaging," said Breeanne Carter, assistant director for marketing and communications for the Pat Walker Health Center. "Most of all, we are grateful to all of the students who participated in the survey or who helped spread the word."  

To explore the comprehensive social media campaign, including posts, stories and videos, follow @uofahealth on Instagram.   

For those still needing flu or COVID-19 vaccines, appointments can be scheduled at myhealth.uark.edu or by calling 479-575-4451, option 1.