LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — UK HealthCare will be expanding its COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Kroger Field on Saturdays with the help of student volunteers.
Additional state allocations have made it possible for the clinic to offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to more people on the university’s waitlist, according to university officials. To meet the demand, the college opened volunteer opportunities for students in the colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Health Sciences.
“The response was so overwhelming, they crashed our signup site,” said Dr. Joseph Zwischeberger with UK’s College of Medicine. "I think what we're seeing is built up frustration that they want to serve and help. They want to be in the profession as quickly as possible and be able to help society improve and get over this disease. It doesn't surprise me, but it does warm my heart to see how they responded."
20 students from the College of Medicine worked during Saturday’s clinic. Each student was supervised by a faculty member as they worked in registration, vaccine preparations and administering shots.
“It’s a really inspiring thing to be part of. It feels like history,” said Elizabeth Hansen, a master’s student in UK’s College of Medicine. “When I see the peace of mind this brings people, it really does make me joyous.”
Nearly 34,000 vaccines have been administered to those in Phase 1a and Phase 1b by UK HealthCare since mid-December.
The additional hours will allow the clinic to expand its weekly vaccination capacity by about 1,000 vaccines, according to a UK HealthCare spokesperson.
The clinic at Kroger Field operates by appointments only Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You can request a vaccine appointment online or by calling 859-218-0111.
