Mount Union Nursing Students, Faculty Receive First Round of COVID-19 Vaccinations
January 12, 2021ALLIANCE, Ohio — The University of Mount Union’s Department of Nursing recently received its first round of COVID-19 vaccinations from the Alliance City Health Department.
The faculty members and students who volunteered to receive the Moderna vaccine were eligible with their participation in clinical settings this spring or summer.
Mount Union was able to secure these vaccines after Dr. Tim Meyers, professor, program director and chair of the University’s Department of Nursing, and other members of the Ohio Council of Deans and Directors wrote a letter to the Governor Mike DeWine’s office advocating for the necessity of students’ nurses to be included in Phase 1 of the Ohio Vaccination Plan.
“This is huge step in allowing our faculty and nursing students to get back to the front lines and support the nurses who continue to be overstrained,” Meyers said. “Vaccination of our nursing students, will allow us to continue to support our healthcare partners during this pandemic while ensuring the nursing students receive adequate experiences and thus, leading to a more prepared student to join the workforce upon graduation.”
A total of 56 students, along with full-time faculty members, received the initial vaccine on January 13. Those individuals will receive the second shot 28 days from the day of the first. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Moderna vaccine is currently 94.1% effective in preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.