Joliet, Ill. – The Franciscan values of service, compassion, integrity and respect are lived through word and action each day at the University of St. Francis, as well as in the community through USF students and employees. In response to the need created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, these values were recently demonstrated in the community by USF Leach College of Nursing (LCON) students and staff as they partnered with Kodo Pharmacy in Joliet to administer vaccine doses to those in need in the community.
“As most of us aware, the task of administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the community is monumental. The LCON staff reached out to the USF Wellness Center and the idea of making contact with Kodo Pharmacy in Joliet was addressed. Talking with Chad Kodiak, owner of and pharmacist at Kodo Pharmacy, the idea was presented that the pharmacy could secure the vaccine through ICares and the Will County Health Department, and that nursing students could assist in vaccine administration,” said Phyllis Peterson, USF Wellness Center Coordinator.
After receiving their own vaccine for protection as well as being in the 1A allocation of the vaccine, a USF team of employees and student nurses worked with Kodo Pharmacy to administer the vaccine to residents at the Joshua Arms Senior High Rise and Trinity Services, along with clients of Cornerstone Services and the Will County Health Department clinic. In three days, the USF student nurses administered over 1660 vaccines. The students also provided COVID-19 testing for approximately 200 Will County residents.
Kodiak stressed his appreciation for the assistance from USF.
“We are so thankful for USF and its nursing students. They have been unbelievable and completely professional. It is no exaggeration to say the COVID vaccines that have been administered in Will County would not have been possible without the help of the USF nursing students. We continue to receive compliments about how professional they are, how skilled they are, and how wonderful they are at doing their job,” he said.
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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 51,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.
University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.
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