Richmond University's Press Conference on Pfizer Vaccination Plan

This report details Richmond University's (RU) public relations efforts surrounding its partnership with Pfizer to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to students and faculty. The report includes a press release announcing the initiative, emphasizing RU's pioneering role and the government's support. An op-ed piece discusses the potential risks and benefits of the program, considering government prioritization and vaccine supply. The report also presents social media materials, including a tweet and a blog post, designed to promote the vaccination program. A Q&A briefing for panelists addresses key concerns about the vaccine and the program's efficacy. Furthermore, the report includes a description of a photo opportunity and caption, alongside a log of activities detailing the team's collaborative efforts, highlighting individual contributions and project management strategies. The overall aim is to normalize education and ensure student well-being during the pandemic.

Public Relations Practice
ASSESSMENT 1
PRESS CONFERENCE
INDIVIDUAL WORK
By
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRESS RELEASE.........................................................................................................................3
AN OP-ED PIECE.........................................................................................................................4
SOCIAL MEDIA MATERIALS..................................................................................................5
Q&A BRIEFING FOR PANELISTS...........................................................................................6
DESCRIPTION OF A SUITABLE PHOTO OP AND CAPTION...........................................7
LOG OF ACTIVITIES.................................................................................................................8
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PRESS RELEASE
In Richmond University (RU), we are going to partner with Pfizer in the new year for
vaccination amongst its faculties and students. We are proudly announcing that Richmond
University will be the first educational institute in the UK to partner with Pfizer for vaccination
and Richmond University will be the first which is going to provide free vaccination to faculties
and students. As, the British Government has announced vaccination for Covid-19 on 2nd
December 2020. The government has tied up with Pfizer for mass vaccination of people across
the UK which will be started from next week. University is doing so because during pandemic ut
already pioneered blended learning in 2020-2021 and offer students free Covid-19 test. Now to
move ahead, it wants to offer vaccination to every student. The government choose this
University because all the programs are managed by the team of RU’s health and logistics
professionals and student’s representative led by Head of Student Welfare. As Vice-chancellor
explain that with by involving RU in this, will help students to get vaccine easily.
Since January 2020, the entire world has been going through a worsening condition due to the
Covid-19 pandemic. The normal life of individuals has come to a standstill situation as
lockdown, social distancing norms have been implemented. Along with economic activities
education system has also been affected by the situation. Top pharmaceutical companies across
the world have also been involved in a race to come up with vaccine as early as possible.
Pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and many more have been involved in the process. This
week Pfizer has completed its trial phases with positive results and effectiveness in controlling
Covid-19, and our country has become the first nation in the world to permitted vaccination.
Considering the government decision, we have also taken the initiative to partner with Pfizer and
circulate vaccines among the faculties and students. The report published by Pfizer has shown a
98% positive rate in controlling the disease. So, we also have prioritized Pfizer for vaccination
on the campus. Safety and side effects of the vaccine have also been considered by us to take the
initiative as more than 43,000 volunteers have not gone through any side effects after injecting
the vaccine. So for safety of our faculty members and students, we have taken many safety
measures.
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We have seen that due to Covid – 19, education system is adversely affected and students are
losing their studies so we have taken the initiative of vaccination for normalizing education
process in the university. Promises of Pfizer vaccine has also been considered to take the
initiative. Pfizer promises a strong future which will bring an end to a global pandemic, end of
lockdown restrictions, positive and healthy life for the people. As we all know,the vaccine is the
only solution to end the pandemic, and an increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the university
has influenced us to consider vaccination with the earliest approach. Proper testing of the
vaccines results along with maintaining or safety standards, assuring benefits for the students
will be undertaken as the primary objectives of the campaign. We will also ensure the mental
health stability of the students and faculties during the vaccination process. In the process of
vaccination, university staffs will be the first to get it and then it will be given to the vulnerable
groups with issues like down syndrome, pregnancy, asthma, diabetes and the elder students. A
six week window will be created for the students to rehoused in a separate location where they
have to spend 3 weeks to get vaccinated. Following the completion of vaccination, all the
students, including the students, refused to get vaccines will be relocated. Students who will take
the vaccines will only be allowed to enter the vaccines and that too with proper IDs. The mental
health of the students will be followed by 16 mental health workers, and they will check the
students 3 weeks prior and post vaccination.
AN OP-ED PIECE
Vaccination has become a common requirement for people across the world to end the Covid-19
pandemic as Covid–19 continue to sicken and kill many people around the world. The UK
government has announced the vaccination of its people by using the Pfizer vaccines.
Government has prioritized the elder people living in a care home and health workers to get the
vaccines first. Simply, the government has focused on vaccinated the vulnerable people first.
Considering such approaches of government, it can be said that the initiative taken by Richmond
University could be a risk. This is because the government can raise questions along with the
denial chances of Pfizer to deliver vaccines in more quantity to the university. The reason behind
such an issue is the prioritization of vulnerable populations, and the university students do not
fall in the category. Very limited amount of vaccines will be delivered by Pfizer until the first
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two three months of 2021. So, we can assume that based on priority and government approaches
Richmond University will face denial to get the vaccination initiative by the new year.
Keep aside the chances of getting the vaccines, Richmond University has taken a good
initiative and plans to inject vaccines to its students and faculties for free. If the tourism industry
has mostly been affected by the pandemic, then the education industry will come second in the
list as schools and colleges are closed for months. Many students have faced year loss or issues
to continue their practical education process. Thus, it can be said that the vaccination approach
will be effective in resuming the education process in the university. Critiquing the planning of
vaccination of the university, it can be said that focus on prioritizing the vulnerable populations
reflects on the British government's approach. While rehousing of the students and mental health
support shows the proper planning of the university to start the vaccination campaign. Options
for students to get vaccinated are also a good approach of the university as many students can
deny taking it as vaccines' long-term side effects have not been tested yet.
SOCIAL MEDIA MATERIALS
Tweet:
UKFightsCorona: A free Vaccine by RU
Richmond University is sharing great news with our beloved students and respected staff
members. The Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine will be given to the students and faculties before the New
Year for free. Richmond will be the first university which is providing such a good facility.
#coronavaccine##forstudent##savelife##pfizer##UKFightsCorona#
Blog post:
UKFightsCorona: As introduced first vaccine in world
The demand for Covid-19 vaccine has been increasing across the world as people are kenning to
get back in normal life. And people want no more lockdown. We all know the vaccine is the only
way to get back the world in normalizes state. At that crucial junction of vaccine development,
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Pfizer has become the first company to manufacture vaccines and the UK the first country to
authorize it. So, as a part of our initiatives against Covid-19, we at Richmond University
announcing that we are going to provide vaccines to the students and faculties before the new
year. We will become the first university in the UK to take such an approach, and it is a proud
moment for us to deliver face to face teaching and seamless education to the students. We had
continued our initiative against Covid-19 when we arranged free and mass testing for our
students. We are hopeful to end the pandemic, provide a better future and education to our
students.
The intended platform for this press release is Forbes because most of the students prefer to read
the article on this. Another platform is Times Higher Education in which RU publish the press
release so that most of the students aware from such free vaccination. Moreover, RU also publish
upon The Doe in Twitter where entire press release will be published that helps to let range of
students know about this offering.
Q&A BRIEFING FOR PANELISTS
 What is the reason to choose Pfizer vaccine?
See, we all know the vaccine is the only solution to Covid-19. So, when the government
announced about Pfizer vaccine, we have got a bit of assurance that the vaccine will work for
sure. Another reason is that Pfizer is the first company to come up with a vaccine with a success
rate of 98%. where more than 43,000 volunteers have also ensured us to use the vaccine.
 As a Chancellor and coming from a science background, do you think the vaccine
will be effective?
Yes, I think it will work as we can see 98% effective rate is the highest among the vaccination
programmed carrying out across the world. As we do not have any other options rather than
using vaccines to avoid getting infected by Covid-19.
 Would like to consider vaccine of another company for the students who refuse to
take the Pfizer one?
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Yes, we are working on it and even we have taken many safety measures to provide the best to
our students. But for that students will have to wait until the end of 2021, as it is not easy to work
on it.
DESCRIPTION OF A SUITABLE PHOTO OP AND CAPTION
Caption:
A volunteer is receiving the Pfizer vaccine at the first stage of the trial phase.
In the trial phase, half of the volunteers have taken the double doses of vaccine from Pfizer, and
the other half have taken the placebo. Monitoring of the physical health of the volunteers have
been done, and efficacy has been seen among more than 90% of volunteers.
Instruction:
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 While taking photographs, make sure not to use flash outdoors because it sometimes
blurred the pictures.
 Do not reveal the identity of a person until you have a permission.
 Take a picture only when the vaccine is injected in person’s body.
 Make sure to use the camera which provide clear picture and learn to adjust the lenses so
that a clear picture is generated.
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LOG OF ACTIVITIES
Purpose Date Responsible person
Made Google docs
presentation so that everyone
can share their ideas and add
contents to it
18th November Pooja, Sam, Mackenzie,
Amina
Zoom Meetings for the
planning of the vaccination
programme and Presentation
also discussed about the
strategy and theoretical
portion we are including in
our presentation
21st November
to
26th November
Pooja, Sam, Mackenzie,
Amina
Zoom meeting to discuss
roles and responsibilities /
work assigned
27th November Pooja, Sam, Mackenzie,
Amina
Discussion and sharing of
ideas on what’s app group
On daily basis Pooja, Sam, Mackenzie,
Amina
Final zoom meeting : we
gathered and provide demo of
our presentation
29th November Pooja, Sam, Mackenzie,
Amina
My contribution with regards to this press release is important such that I always make sure that
my team does not face any problem. If they feel so, then we all help each other so that problem
become minimized. Also, initially we feel not comfortable with each other but once the
interaction has been done, I realized that my team has strong members who always develop
strategies to meet the define aim. Among all, my contribution is to suggest different ways
through which meeting can be conducted with each other, as it is not possible to meet face to
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face and that is why, I create schedule on application so that we can meet virtually and solve the
doubts as well. As I planned about the entire press release and I coordinate with my team
members, so that our work will not delayed. Through team working, I understand that this
program is successful when we all put out best efforts in order to meet the define target,
otherwise we cannot lead this towards success direction. A successful program depends on the
cooperation of every person. The entire responsibility of the successful organization of the
campaign has been allocated among the four members of our group (Samantha Martini, Head
of Communications, Dr Amina Jalloh, Pfizer Representative, Pooja Patel, Head Chancellor,
Mackenzie Parry-Bull, Head of Human Resources). Meeting has been conducted between the
members on a daily basis to keep everyone updated about the vaccination planning. Arrangement
of place for the vaccination program and looking for the investment has also been prioritized by
the team to conduct the entire process without interruption.
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