For Immediate Release
January 20, 2021

Nursing Students Answer Call to Help Administer COVID-19 Vaccine

More than five-dozen Suffolk County Community College nursing students have volunteered to assist New York State and Suffolk County with the administration of the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine.

“The first wave of volunteers that we are asking for are those qualified students across our health programs who are able to, under supervision, to potentially administer the vaccine,” an email sent to the College earlier this month, said.

The call for volunteers is in response to the SUNY Chancellor’s call for help to speed up the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

“Within hours of the call to assist in speeding up the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, more than 60 nursing students pledged to help,” said Suffolk County Community College School of Nursing Associate Dean Cheryl Schaffer PhD PNP ANP.  

“I am proud of their commitment to make an impact on the health and wellbeing of our community, Shaffer said, and explained that to be eligible to assist in this important health initiative, students either passed a performance evaluation or have administered injections in their clinical rotations. They will work under the supervision of a professional registered nurse.   

Suffolk County Community College Interim President Louis Petrizzo previously announced that the College would make all its campuses – from Brentwood to Riverhead -- available for distribution of the vaccine.

The Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood is now a host site where the Suffolk County Department of Health is administering vaccines in the fight against COVID-19. 

“I’ve often said that we are not only a community college, but also a college in our community, and a vital part of the community” Petrizzo said. “I am proud of our nursing students for answering the call to volunteer, and for helping in the fight to eradicate this virus.”