Family nurse practitioner reinforces the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccination

On Friday, Oct 21, Elmhurst University held a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for its staff to get inoculated. Meghan Pillow, family nurse practitioner and director of student health services, reiterates how severe the risk of being unvaccinated has always been.  

“COVID-19 has always had the potential for being a very severe infection that causes a great deal of suffering for many and over 700,000 deaths,” Pillow said in an email to The Leader. 

 Pillow has worked as a critical care nurse for over ten years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. She took care of many patients with COVID-19.  

“It was a heartbreaking job as we gave these patients all the treatments available and more oxygen than we’ve ever given any of our patients before.” said Pillow. 

 In addition to being empathetic, Pillow mentioned that the public needs to be given effective data and information that proves vaccinations are safe. 

Pillow said that at the CDC website, they’ve constructed a graph that shows the decline of hospitalizations and deaths since the vaccine was made available. 

Due to the severity of COVID-19 infection, EU has enforced a vaccine mandate which requires all students, staff, and faculty to be vaccinated unless they have a medical or religious exemption. Non-vaccinated individuals must undergo weekly testing. Overall, many students have agreed to this policy. 

Sophomore and criminal justice major Emily Leonard, who works in healthcare, says that she’s “all for it.” 

“I think it’s necessary,” said Ashlee Welch, political science major and senior at EU. “Especially with how bad COVID[-19] was at the time when the vaccine was being rolled out.”  

“I feel like people should get vaccinated because the cases are still rising up,” said Kal-El Whitehead, freshman.

“I feel that it’s great. [It’s] saving lives.” said Claire Singla, a junior political science major. “You’re always going to have people who are selfish and only care about themselves. They’ll say, ‘I’m healthy, I don’t need the vaccine,’ but it’s more for those around you, such as high risk family members. I’m more likely to listen to my doctor than Aunt Sally at Thanksgiving.”