Wallace State Nursing delivers COVID-19 vaccine to health science students, faculty, staff

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College’s Department of Nursing Education on Friday administered the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations to students, faculty and staff in the health science programs at the college. The satellite clinic was scheduled with the college through the Alabama Department of Public Health.

More than 250 doses were given by nursing students supervised by current and retired faculty who volunteered to assist. The Alabama Board of Nursing encouraged colleges to allow students to deliver the vaccinations as part of their clinical requirements.

“These students have all been checked off and they were revalidated before this event to review the recommendations associated with this vaccine,” said Lisa German, Vice President for Learning and Dean of Health Sciences. “It is a good experience for our students and also a good community outreach.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to participate in an historic event and to receive the vaccine to protect themselves and others,” said Deborah “Pepper” Hoover, chair of the Wallace State Department of Nursing Education. These students will be participating in clinical experiences at facilities that treat patients with COVID-19. Providing students with this vaccine will not only protect them, it will also protect their families since they’re reducing their chances of contracting the virus and bringing it home.”

Dental Hygiene student Emily Steles of Muscle Shoals appreciated the opportunity to get the vaccine through the event.

“I think it’s going to be helpful to get rid of COVID,” she said. “And that way we can take care of our patients in the clinic and be as safe as possible.”

“I am very thankful that I get to participate in this opportunity to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Madison Pugh, a fourth-semester Nursing student who was one of several students administering shots. “It is awesome to be a part of this historical event at Wallace.”

Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics expressed her appreciation that health science students were granted this opportunity.

“I am grateful because they are first-line/frontline workers even if they are in a clinical environment, and it’s only right that they be vaccinated,” she told local media. “It’s the beginning of the end, hopefully.”

As the clinic neared the end, other faculty and staff were offered doses of the remaining vaccine since some scheduled for an appointment were unable to attend. Once a vial is penetrated it must be used within 6 hours. Not a single dose was wasted.

Those who received the vaccination on Friday will return on March 5 to get the second dose.

Wallace State’s Department of Nursing Education will begin accepting applications for Fall 2021 entry into its Associate Degree Nursing, UAB/WSCC Nursing Joint Enrollment BSN, Mobility and Transfer programs on March 15. Other health science programs will begin taking applications for Fall 2021 entry on March 1.

For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu or call 256.352.8000.