In December, the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine became available. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved first, the Moderna vaccine came right behind it. Both had efficacy ratings of about 95 percent. Immunization sites were set up, many were drive-through sites, but vaccine supply was unpredictable.
Early on, people made a habit of refreshing the Mississippi State Department of Health COVID-19 page often, hoping to book an appointment online to receive a dose of the vaccine. Some people are still refreshing that page 50 times a day.
Almost from the start, William Carey University students from the College of Health Sciences served at immunization sites – School of Pharmacy students from the Tradition campus and School of Nursing students from the Hattiesburg, Tradition and Baton Rouge campuses.
“Our students and faculty are proud to work with other health care professionals to fight this pandemic. We hope that our efforts will be effective in protecting people and allowing them to return to a more normal life soon,” said Dr. Karen Sicard of the College of Health Sciences.
WCU President Dr. Tommy King thanked COHS students for their outreach to the community and said he is proud that they perform far beyond the tasks required of them.
WCU School of Pharmacy
Students from the WCU School of Pharmacy have been assisting during their clinical rotations at Singing River Health System since mid-December. The effort was organized by three assistant professors of pharmacy practice at WCU who also practice as pharmacists at Singing River, Dr. Michael Bounds, Dr. Ashley Hawthorne, and Dr. Anthony Todd.
“Our faculty and students have been helping immunize employees and the public. Students have administered immunizations. They’ve prepared doses from bulk vials and distributed them to pharmacists and nurses. WCU pharmacy students have also helped with record-keeping, filling out Centers for Disease Control immunization cards with vaccine lot numbers,” Bounds said.
“Singing River Health System has done an excellent job managing scheduling, vaccine supply, and staffing for immunization events. As of mid-February, they’ve given more than 18,000 immunizations. We’re proud to have been a part of their efforts.”
Other WCU School of Pharmacy faculty members practicing as pharmacists at health care organizations like Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, Slidell Memorial Hospital, and Coastal Family Health Center organized students to assist with vaccines, too.
WCU School of NursingNursing students also worked at immunization sites during their clinical rotations. Nursing students from the Hattiesburg campus have assisted at Hattiesburg Clinic.
“I had the chance to talk to patients as I was administering vaccinations and helping with paperwork. Most of the patients I encountered at Hattiesburg Clinic were older adults or people who had underlying conditions, so they were very excited to receive the vaccine and happy to play a role in slowing the spread of COVID-19,” said nursing student Noel Smith of Heidelberg.
“Some patients were worried about the side effects of the vaccine, but the CEO of the clinic, Dr. Bryan Batson, was available to inform patients of possible side effects and give additional information they needed.”
Tradition campus nursing students helped the Mississippi State Department of Health at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum. Nursing students from WCU at Baton Rouge General assisted at the Employee Health and Wellness Center at the hospital’s Bluebonnet location.
In the photo:Nicole Depew, at right, a student at the WCU School of Pharmacy in Tradition, draws up individual doses of COVID-19 vaccine at a drive-through immunization site at Singing River Health System.
