ONU Ahead of Call in Vaccine Distribution

President Biden’s recent call for colleges and universities to help with vaccine distribution and education is something Ohio Northern has been doing all along, and will continue to do in upcoming months.

Here’s how:

.The College of Pharmacy has been working with the Hardin County Health Department to vaccinate individuals during the federal Phase 1 stage. For the Phase 2 regional distribution rollout that began this week, pharmacy students and staff are visiting K-12 schools and other settings with identified priority workers. During the week of Feb. 15, ONU Healthwise Pharmacy will receive 300 Moderna vaccine doses, 200 of which will be committed to vaccinations at Hardin County schools.

.The HealthWise Mobile Clinic is being used for vaccinations. This clinic on wheels meets Hardin County residents, many of them living at the federal poverty level and suffering from severe healthcare services gaps, closer to where they are. Pharmacy students offer regular clinics at various locations such as churches and schools, where patients can receive preventative care, screenings and medication management. The mobile clinic will be fully equipped to transport vaccines at the appropriate temperatures and provide volunteers with the supplies they need to efficiently and safely inoculate.

.ONU has been identified as a Phase 2 site for vaccinating the general public. Both on-campus and mass vaccination travelling clinics are being planned for our campus community and Northwest Ohio.

.College of Pharmacy Dean Steve Martin, PharmD, continues to serve as an expert source for vaccine-related and COVID-19 safety information. Since the start of the pandemic, he has taken part in multiple media interviews and, with other staff and students, has worked with community leaders to keep the public informed.

.The College offers a Rural and Underserved Health Scholars Program that prepares students for the specialized rigors of rural pharmacy practice.