McNeese Hosts On-Campus COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic

McNeese State University hosted its first COVID-19 vaccination clinic on campus Friday, March 12, for eligible students, faculty and staff. McNeese’s vaccination site was approved through the Louisiana Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Eighty-three members of the McNeese community received their vaccines at the clinic spearheaded by the Student Health Center and the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Faculty, students and retired faculty volunteers from the College staffed the event.

“McNeese will host more clinics as we receive more dosages of the vaccine to administer,” according to Dr. Troy Hidalgo, Student Health Center nurse practitioner.

In order for McNeese to be approved as a vaccine site, Hidalgo says the university had to verify that a licensed provider would oversee the vaccinations, a temperature monitored refrigerator would be used to store the doses and all persons vaccinated would be entered into Louisiana’s immunization database. 

Corliss Badeaux, instructor of English and director of the Write to Excellence Center, was one of the first to get her vaccine on Friday.

“The nursing staff was reassuring and it felt great to be part of a group of people who are focused on creating a healthy and supportive campus community,” says Badeaux. “I can’t wait until all the students, faculty and staff can receive the vaccine and fully enjoy the campus and McNeese life again!”

Walker Bihm, Master of Business Administration graduate student, also received his vaccine at the clinic.

“I got the vaccine because I want to be protected and I want to do my part to protect my friends and family,” Bihm says.