WTEN: ‘Every shot counts’ – One local college pushes to get students vaccinated

Carrie Hogan, director of health services at Siena College and a nurse practitioner at St. Peter’s Health Partners, was interviewed by WTEN – News 10/FOX 23 News about a pop-up COVID vaccination clinic for students at the school. The vaccine clinic opened in response to New York state expanding eligibility on April 6 for people age 16 and over to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

From the story:

On the first day for New Yorkers 16 and older to get a shot, around 500 Siena College students received the Pfizer vaccine on campus.

“We had an enormous amount of students that were looking for appointments. We filled our first 500 vaccine appointments in about 9 or 10 hours,” said Carrie Hogan, Director of Health Services at Siena College and a nurse practitioner at St. Peter’s Health Partners.

Hogan said with giving out the vaccine on campus, they are hoping it will open the door for students to gather safely in classrooms, dorms, cafeterias, and participate in extracurricular activities in the fall.

“That’s why we are promoting them to become vaccinated; not only for their own safety but to help prevent the spread throughout the community,” said Hogan.

St. Peter’s Health Partners Medical Associates (SPHPMA) operates Siena College’s student health services clinic. The vaccine effort involved input from several agencies including the Albany County Department of Health, which secured the vaccine doses; SPHPMA, which provided the staff necessary for screening and vaccine administration; and Siena College, which prepared their gym space to accommodate a steady stream of students passing through and receiving their vaccination over a seven-hour span.

Click here to watch WTEN’s report.