Student and faculty clinic volunteers give COVID-19 vaccinations

The Campbell Community Care Clinic has provided free primary care and specialty referrals to uninsured patients of the Harnett County Community since 2015, and now the Campbell student and faculty volunteers are answering the call to give COVID-19 vaccinations.

“Folks, especially those 65 and older in Group 1B, are eager to get the vaccine as soon as possible, but availability and appointments are limited,” said Dr. Joe Cacioppo, chair of community and global health and director of the Community Care Clinic. “When the Harnett County Health Department asked us to host clinics out in the community to help increase access, we were excited and immediately began to contact potential community partners.”

Mt. Pisgah Free Will Baptist Church in Erwin was the first community organization to work with the community care clinic to host a vaccine event. Pharmacy, physician assistant and medical school faculty and students volunteered at the church on Feb. 6 and gave more than 300 shots.

Volunteers and patients came from beyond Harnett County to serve others and to receive the vaccine.

“I have a passion for helping people, and I had a family member pass away from COVID-19 last year, so being able to help — especially the elderly — receive the vaccine makes me really happy,” said Casandra from Fayetteville.

“I’m their caretaker — my aunt [68], my mother [70] and my grandmother [92] are here with me from Goldsboro to get their vaccines,” said Elanor Perez.

“It’s important for me because it will hopefully help me live a little longer and be able to spend time safely with my grandchildren,” added Francis Carter. “I want to be there and see everything with them.”

In addition to volunteering at the vaccine clinics hosted by the care clinic, Campbell Medicine and Pharmacy & Health Sciences students are volunteering weekly at clinics hosted by Harnett Health and other health systems throughout the region.

“Campbell has been sending students to help with the Harnett Health clinics for about a month now,” Dr. Katie Trotta, CUCCC and University Health Center pharmacy manager said. “Saturday’s clinic was the first large-scale vaccination event organized and staffed by all Campbell employees and students.

“It was an exciting day, and we were happy to bring vaccinations to more than 300 people in Harnett County. The event would not have been possible without the help of the parishioners of Mt. Pisgah, so a big thank you to them. We look forward to our continued aid with vaccination efforts throughout the community.”