Over the course of more than a year, large quantities of vaccine doses are being sent to combat the Cavid-19 epidemic, and colleges and universities around the United States have become mass vaccination centers serving thousands of patients every day. Kathleen Strike, a correspondent for VOA, reports that Americans have been waiting for days to receive the Cavid-19 vaccine, and that some colleges and universities in the United States are becoming public vaccination centers as vaccines become available. One of these is Shenandoah University, located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia.

The university’s president, Tracy Fitsimmons, said 50,000 people had been vaccinated since mid-January. “Not only do we have the space here, but we also have the skills to do it,” he said. We have a pharmacy school, a nursing school, a school for healthcare workers, and they are all qualified enough to be vaccinated. Our university business school knows how to run a big company, so they have helped us. ”

As of March 23, only 25 percent of the US population had received the vaccine, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicted that 90 percent of people would receive the vaccine by August. The Shenandoah Clinic employs 750 volunteers, including students like Kimberly Siguanza, who is studying biology, public health and Spanish, and helping translate conversations for the benefit of patients. Student Kimberly Siguenza said, “One of my favorite things that happened last week was that I saw a Spanish-speaking woman who had been here the week before. She knew it would be a safe place to talk, and she would get all the information she needed. ”

Kawther Al Ali will receive his doctorate in pharmacology in May. One year has passed since she left her husband and family in Saudi Arabia, but the work of administering the vaccine to people living in Virginia has kept her busy enough. Student Kawther Al Ali said: “I spend a lot of time observing people, talking to patients, inquiring about their health, and even answering questions about what medications they should take over the counter if they have a fever. I am very busy. ”

“The only thing we can do for our community is to ensure that everyone, regardless of race or religion, has an equal right to this vaccine,” said Tracy Fitzimmons, president of Shenandoah University. No matter how much money you make, no matter what language you speak, whether you are educated or uneducated, whether you are at home or you are homeless, everyone has an equal right to this vaccine. ”

Tracy Fitzimmons also hopes that vaccine production will continue to grow. If supplies increase, the Shenandoah clinic will be able to vaccinate at least 6,000 people a day.