On April 8, more than 500 Arcadia University community members took advantage of Rite Aid pharmacists visiting campus to administer the first of two Pfizer COVID vaccine shots.  

Student Health Services (SHS) helped transform the Great Room ⁠— which also serves as the surveillance testing area ⁠— into a vaccine clinic for the day. Over the course of eight hours, pharmacists administered the first dose to 505 faculty and staff members, and their families. After injection, Nurse Practitioners from SHS and Physician Assistant (PA) faculty observed patients for 15 minutes for any signs of reactions.

“It went smoothly,” said Theresa Smith, director of the Student Health Services. “PA faculty, SHS, and the COVID-19 care team all came together to get the Arcadia community vaccinated.”

Community members who received their first shot on April 8 will return to the Great Room at the same time of the day on April 29 to receive their second dose. Community members have specific time slots to help with mitigation efforts.

In May, Rite Aid will return to administer a second round of vaccine to community members who have not received it elsewhere. 

Smith hopes that these vaccination efforts, in addition to wider vaccine availability at the county and state level, will help the University achieve herd immunity.

“This standard is important for our community to move forward,” said Smith. She noted that herd immunity will lead to less required testing. “We did our best to get everyone a vaccine who filled out the survey, because we want to reach that herd immunity level.”

Smith said that SHS will require students to upload their COVID-19 vaccine documentation into the student portal before returning to campus in the fall. It will be the same process that students use to submit other vaccination records. Faculty and staff will also be required to submit their vaccination records with the Office of Human Resources.