A nursing student and patient giving a thumbs up after the patient received the coronavirus vaccine

CCN Students Give COVID-19 Vaccinations to Underserved Population

A group of UA Capstone College of Nursing students took to the frontline of the fight against COVID-19 and provided vaccinations to an underserved population of West Alabama Feb. 25.

A nursing student and patient giving a thumbs up after the patient received the moderna COVID-19 vaccineThrough an ongoing partnership with the Good Samaritan Clinic, several upper-division CCN students administered 100 first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to clinic patients. The Good Samaritan Clinic is a Christian ministry that provides primary health care to uninsured and underinsured people of all ages, races and genders.

“Clinic patients are those who ‘fall through the cracks’ of health care services,” said Dr. Michelle Cheshire, associate professor at the Capstone College of Nursing and clinic volunteer.

The Good Samaritan Clinic serves as a clinical site for CCN undergraduate and graduate students. When Cheshire found out the clinic would provide COVID-19 vaccinations, she saw it as a wonderful opportunity for undergraduate students to do their part in the fight against the global pandemic.

“The mission of the Capstone College of Nursing is to promote the health and well-being of the people of the state of Alabama, and partnering with the clinic to provide the Moderna vaccine to medically underserved patients aligns with our mission,” said Cheshire. “We are excited to be a part of helping vaccinate residents of West Alabama in an effort to continue to decrease the spread of COVID-19.”

Michael Bottorff, a nursing student from St. Marys, Georgia, said he jumped at the opportunity to volunteer and give back to a group in need.

“As a nurse, we’re on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic and any future pandemics, as well as any situation where medical care is needed,” said Bottorff. “This opportunity provided good exposure and practice for those situations.”

A second group of CCN students will have the opportunity to provide the second doses of the Moderna vaccine in March.

Contact

Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, bryant.welbourne@ua.edu