Since the release of COVID-19 vaccines, several students on campus that have been vaccinated. Given the low number of available vaccines some students had the opportunity to be vaccinated due to their jobs.
Hannah Walters, a sophomore nursing major and education minor, is one of the students that has been vaccinated through her job. She has received both doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the first having been administered in December and the second only a month later in January. When Walters is not on campus, she works at a nursing home. She was given the opportunity and was encouraged to be vaccinated through her work as she was exposed to the virus frequently with one-fourth of the facility patients testing positive.
Even though Walters has received both doses of the vaccine and has not had any major side effects, she still takes extra precaution at all times.
“I wouldn’t say I feel more comfortable, because I’m still just like, I’d rather be safe than sorry,” said Walters. “So, I still wear all the PPE [personal protective equipment] and everything.”
Along with Walters, there are multiple education majors who have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Many schools that are offering in-person classes have given teachers and aids the opportunity to be vaccinated.
Katie McCord, a senior early childhood education and intervention specialist major, received her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
in early February. She was given the opportunity to receive the vaccine through Allen East schools where she teaches. McCord teaches in-person classes to high school and kindergarten students. With the kindergarteners being under the age of 10, McCord knows it is rare to keep a mask on them all day, making McCord even more eager to receive the vaccine.
McCord has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past, making her no stranger to the symptoms that come with the virus. Having had the virus as well as hearing information about it from a nurse in the family helped her ultimately decide to receive the vaccine as soon as possible. McCord hopes that by this time next year all of the individuals who want to be vaccinated will be.
“Oh, I hope so!” said McCord. “I know a lot of people aren’t wanting to [get vaccinated] but I hope by next year everyone who wants to get it will.”
Sydney Bowen, a senior early childhood education and intervention specialist major, received her first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 19 through Crestview schools. Bowen had an elderly neighbor that tested positive for the virus and seeing how much it affected him pushed her to want to receive the vaccine.
“I would tell people [who have the option of receiving the vaccine] that if they are healthy and blessed enough to have a healthy life that they should go for it.” said Bowen. “They should do it on behalf of the people that are not.”
