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GETTING BACK TO NORMAL | YSU campus lines up for first COVID-19 vaccine clinic

By Ellen Wagner
Youngstown State University hosts vaccine clinic at Beeghly Center. The right half of the room is for people to fill out their information before going behind the screen to for the first dose of the Moderna vaccine. The left side is for people to sit for their 15 minute monitoring period after receiving the vaccine. (Ellen Wagner | Mahoning Matters)
Youngstown State University hosts vaccine clinic at Beeghly Center. The right half of the room is for people to fill out their information before going behind the screen to for the first dose of the Moderna vaccine. The left side is for people to sit for their 15 minute monitoring period after receiving the vaccine. (Ellen Wagner | Mahoning Matters)

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University started down the path to getting back to normal Tuesday as students, faculty and staff received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

YSU partnered with Youngstown City Health District to administer the Moderna vaccine to the campus community at the Beeghly Center.

Shannon Tirone, associate vice president of University Relations, said the goal is to get classes, activities and events fully resumed on campus.

YSU has worked closely with Youngstown City Health District throughout the pandemic to make sure the university was following safety standards and protocols, Tirone said.

“When the opportunity came up that they had vaccines that they were able to offer to us to do this, we jumped on it very quickly,” Tirone said.

Tirone said about 1,000 people signed up for the vaccine; 85 percent of them were students.

“I think it’s just a testament to our student population,” Tirone said. “They also want to get back to normal as quickly as possible.”

Scheduling opened up for vaccine appointments last Tuesday at 4 p.m. and was completely filled four hours later.

Another clinic will take place Tuesday with an additional 1,000 people expected to sign up to receive the vaccine. Some appointments are still available online. YSU will also host clinics again for people to receive their second doses.

Tirone said since the clinics filled up quickly, the university is hoping to plan a third clinic for vaccinations.

Justin Shaughnessy, a master’s student at YSU and president of student government, volunteered at the clinic on Tuesday. He said it’s been an interesting experience to be a student throughout the pandemic.

He said the student body has felt more united during the pandemic. More students offering to volunteer when needed, — such as vaccine clinics — have demonstrated “pulling the good from the bad.”

Some volunteers at the clinic included nursing students from YSU’s Centofanti School of Nursing. They administered the vaccines, overseen by their professors.

“I think students saw a need and they’re filling it,” Shaughnessy said.

Earlier this month, the university announced intentions to return campus operations to near-normal levels for the 2021 fall semester starting in August, which includes more face-to-face classes, more students in residence halls and more activities and events on campus.

Sara Rex, a senior at YSU, said she was nervous but excited for the opportunity to get the vaccine.

She has classes both online and in-person but prefers in-person classes more. Rex said she graduates in the fall and hopes for more normalcy during her final semester at YSU.

Alyssa Osman, a junior at YSU, said she’s been waiting to get the vaccine for a long time and was excited to finally get it.

The university’s protocols have been good at keeping everyone safe with face masks and social distancing, Osman said.

Osman said half of her classes are online and the other half are in-person.

“I definitely can’t wait to go back to normal,” Osman said.

This story was originally published March 31, 2021 at 3:52 AM with the headline "GETTING BACK TO NORMAL | YSU campus lines up for first COVID-19 vaccine clinic."