It was mostly quiet in the Screaming Eagles Arena on the morning of Tuesday, April 6, much as it had been for the last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Slowly but surely, however, crews from USI Creative and Print Services, IT and the College of Nursing and Health Professions began to filter in, putting together signs, setting up waiting areas and prepping for the USI Vaccination Clinic that would take place Wednesday, April 7 through Friday, April 9. The doors opened for students, employees and community family members to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to vaccinate as many as possible and send them home safe after the Spring Semester.
Creative and Print Services didn't miss a beat, providing 123 pieces of signage for the clinic. This included floor and sidewalk graphics, directional signage inside and outside the arena, a large banner at the roundabout, the large window cling location graphic on the arena window, vaccine stations and registration table numbers, designated rooms signs and instructional signage. Creative and Print Services also printed 2,000 vaccination forms and 2,500 "I've been vaccinated" stickers in the days leading up to the clinic. Crews were placing signage throughout the day Tuesday, April 6 and the morning of Wednesday, April 7 to help guide volunteers, students and employees.
Groups of volunteers helped guide students and employees throughout the clinic.
As the time to open the clinic drew closer, students from the USI Nursing Program gathered the morning of April 7 to go over vaccination procedures. During the three days of the clinic, 76 nursing students administered vaccines to their fellow students as well as University employees. Each day, at least four faculty members of the nursing program were onsite supervising the vaccinations and assisting in the preparation of the vaccine.
Over the three day vaccination clinic, a total of 1,420 individuals received their first doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
"This highly successful effort was a magnificent example of the entire University coming together to work for a specific goal to benefit the common good. Students, faculty, staff, community volunteers — all shoulder-to-shoulder, walking together, facing forward." – David Bower, Vice President for Development
"I am from Illinois and vaccine eligibility for younger people is not yet at full scale. I am grateful to receive the vaccine here on campus because if this was not available, I would most likely have to wait until the summer to be fully vaccinated." – Lauren Mygatt '22
The morning of April 7, University officials, volunteers, students and employees, along with news media from the Tri-State gathered at Screaming Eagles Arena to kick off the Vaccination Clinic. University President Dr. Ronald Rochon and Dr. Ann White, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, spoke on the importance of the clinic in keeping our community safe.
To all the students, faculty, administration, support employees and members of the USI community participating in the Vaccination Clinic – thank you for helping Protect Our Nest!
Credits:
Elizabeth Randolph Kenny Derby