Vaccinating Vulnerable Populations

(Clockwise from top left) Miranda Barroqueiro, Lily DuFour and Kate Murray educated and vaccinated patients in an underserved community as part of a clinical opportunity to push back the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lots can happen in a nursing student’s clinical day, but rarely is it truly of historic proportion. Not so on St. Patrick’s Day when three students in the home health care clinical group of Catherine Curley, PhD, RN, moved a community closer to putting the COVID-19 pandemic in its rear-view mirror through education and medication.

Seniors Miranda Barroqueiro, Lily DuFour and Kate Murray joined Dr. Curley, clinical assistant professor and interim director Center for Global and Public Health, at a Delaware County vaccination site at a wellness and opportunity center in the underserved city of Chester on the Delaware River, just outside Philadelphia.

Lily notes that the site was planning on administering vaccinations to 120 local residents, age 50 or older that day, “serving a community that is often overlooked for healthcare resources and has a distrust in the healthcare system.”

“Each of the recipients was extremely nervous, hence it was important to ease their nerves and remind them that they are making history,” Miranda explains. Reflecting on her involvement of drawing up vaccines, distributing them to the various stations, and administering five vaccines herself, she says, “The experience was absolutely amazing. It was so empowering to take part in such a historic time in healthcare.”

“I found the experience to be very impactful,” notes Kate, “I enjoyed giving back by screening and vaccinating 10 members of the community. With all of the uncertainty surrounding the vaccine, it was great to be able to ease any concerns.”

Lily agrees, “This was one of my favorite clinical experiences I have had at Villanova. It was so amazing to be a part of the ‘end of COVID’ movement.”