Students Play Integral Role in On-campus Vaccination Effort

by Sarah Waller

This spring, Samford University held COVID-19 vaccination clinics on campus, administering nearly 2,000 doses of the Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to students, employees and members of the local community. The clinic was made possible through a partnership with Encompass Health Lakeshore, and it was an intensely collaborative effort with more than 100 Samford employees and students across multiple departments working to organize, communicate and facilitate these large-scale events.

“This clinic is interprofessional education in action,” said Melissa Lumpkin, interim dean of Samford’s School of Public Health. “We teach our students that health care cannot be administered by a single profession, but instead, it’s a team-based approach to care. Here, public health, nursing and pharmacy students are working side-by-side to care for individuals—and ultimately protect the Samford community.”

The process to receive a vaccine took less than 20 minutes, and each step along the way demonstrated the interprofessional work taking place.

As individuals arrived at the clinic, they were greeted by public health students who took their temperature and screened them for medical eligibility. They were then directed to a station where either a nursing or pharmacy student was there to administer the vaccine. Behind the scenes, additional pharmacy students were reconstituting the vaccine and drawing up doses.

“It was truly an honor

to play a part in something as great as vaccinating and providing protection to our Samford family. ” —Aly York ’21

Students enjoy the newly renovated University Center.

After receiving the vaccine, individuals were asked to stay for 15 minutes of observation, overseen by students and faculty; then, before they left, a public health student filled out their vaccination card, reminding them to mark their calendar for dose two.

The clinic was staffed by 50 people each day, and they worked at a pace of 18 vaccinations every five minutes. Nursing and pharmacy students are trained in giving injections as part of their respective programs, enabling them to administer vaccines as students.

“It truly was an honor to play a part in something as great as vaccinating and providing protection to our Samford family,” said Aly York ’21, a recent Doctor of Pharmacy graduate. “I had the opportunity to be part of the COVID-19 vaccine clinic on four different days, and I heard so many stories of how COVID-19 has changed us and how much hope we all have for a brighter future. It really was such an incredible experience.”

The organized nature of the clinic enabled individuals to move quickly and efficiently through the process, and for everyone involved, the importance of the clinic was evident. “Even though it’s just poking an arm, it’s a good thing to remember that this work will protect our community,” said Caroline Thomas ’21, a recent nursing graduate. “Sure, we are not giving CPR or calling a code, but a little poke can go a long way.” ◗