Success of First COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Prompts Second Event on Friday, April 9
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi hosts COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
In collaboration with Nueces County and multiple community partners, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi held its first COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – In collaboration with Nueces County and multiple community partners, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi held its first COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic open to students, faculty, staff, and the Coastal Bend community. Held on campus on April 1, the clinic was made possible by a generous donation of vaccines, health care workers from the CHRISTUS Spohn Health System, and a multitude of volunteers.
With exactly 1,000 vaccines on hand, volunteers distributed 100% of all vaccines available, taking another successful step toward keeping the community healthy and safe. According to Zelda Chacon, TAMU-CC Health Center director, more than 250 vaccines were distributed in the first half hour.
“It’s extremely important for everyone in our community to have access to vaccinations,” she said. “Once we hit about 75% to 85% of people being vaccinated, we can have herd immunity, which means there are so many people who have the vaccination, it will be extremely rare for anyone to have the virus.”
Along with volunteers from the county, CHRISTUS Spohn, and other university faculty and staff, a small group of Islander students from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences volunteered to help in the distribution of vaccines. Kaela Davis '21, nursing major, says the experience was one that presented a special feeling of fulfillment with each patient’s gratitude.
“It makes me so happy to see everyone getting their shots and receiving their vaccinations,” she said. “Through this clinic, I was able to talk to many registered nurses and see what they were doing. I was also able to practice administering injections like we get to do in clinicals. This past year, we weren’t able to access clinicals as much (due to COVID), so this was a great opportunity for me to learn and learn by repetition.”
As cars lined the Sand Dollar parking lot, patients checked in throughout the day. After receiving their shot, they waited for 15-minutes to make sure they didn’t have adverse reactions. Through the efforts of each volunteer, Chacon said the process was seamless.
“Everything moved really fast, and the nurses made it super easy,” said Kayla Weeks '18, TAMU-CC E-communications specialist. “I was expecting to wait in line for two hours, at least, but I was in and out within 40 minutes. I am someone who usually is very scared of needles and doctors, but the nurse who administered my shot made me feel really at ease and comfortable.”
The Island University and Nueces County will partner together once again for another Pfizer first dose COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic on Friday, April 9, in the Sand Dollar parking lot. The event kicks off at 9 a.m. and is open to the public (ages 16+) on a first come first serve basis. Islander students, faculty, and staff can check their email for a registration code to reduce their wait time. In addition, those vaccinated on April 1 will be invited back for a second dose later on in April.
