Leveraging an Academic Practice Partnership to Support a COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Clinic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nursing Education
• Vaccinology

Background:

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for the first COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020.
• Vaccine distribution commenced rapidly following authorization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an innovative initiative mobilizing nursing and interprofessional students to support a mass COVID-19 vaccination program.
• To highlight the role of academic-practice partnerships in public health responses.

Main Methods:

• Nursing faculty utilized an existing academic health center (AHC) partnership.
• Student volunteers from nursing and other health professions were mobilized.
• The program supported AHC frontline healthcare staff, patients, and community members.

Main Results:

• Student vaccinators administered 98,000 COVID-19 vaccinations.
• Volunteer hours totaled 11,820, yielding an estimated cost savings of $768,300 for the AHC.
• The initiative facilitated a swift vaccine rollout.

Conclusions:

• Nursing students and faculty demonstrated commitment to academic-practice partnerships during a global health crisis.
• The initiative enhanced access to COVID-19 vaccinations for underserved communities.
• The program underscored the vital role of student engagement in public health efforts.