Hillsdale Hospital hosts vaccination clinic at Searle Center

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Hillsdale Hospital hosts vaccination clinic at Searle Center
Many employees of the college received the vaccine at the Searle Center last spring. Courtesy | Hillsdale Hospital

A clinic on campus provided 153 people with COVID-19 vaccinations and more than 310 people with flu shots, according to Hillsdale Hospital Pharmacy Director Jeff Kauffman.  

The clinic, which took place at the Searle Center, was sponsered by the hospital. It offered free shots to students, staff, faculty, and local residents. 

The clinic required registration for the COVID-19 vaccine so it could prepare the necessary number of doses. Flu vaccine recipients were not required to register prior to the clinic. Individuals 12 and older were eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and immunocompromised individuals were eligible for a third dose.  

“The flu shot has been around for a long time, and although it is not 100% effective, getting it seems like a good idea,” Hillsdale College Nurse Kari Coupland said. 

The hospital offers a similar community vaccination event once a year, as well as a COVID-19 vaccination clinic every Thursday at the hospital. Last year, the community event was held at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds. 

Kauffmann encouraged those who missed the clinic to come to the hospital on a Thursday to get vaccinated.  

“If there are any other faculty or students that weren’t able to make it, they can come by any Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. here at the hospital and we can take care of the COVID-19 vaccinations there,” he said. 

Fred Yaniga, chairman and associate professor of German, received the COVID-19 Pfizer booster, as well as the flu shot, last Friday.

“I have a class right now where 50% of my class is out,” Yaniga said. “I know that we’ve had many cases on campus. I like to have full classes, and I think that the vaccine is something that can help.” 

He said it took five minutes to walk through the doors and receive both shots. He waited in the clinic for 15 minutes after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in case of an allergic reaction before going to lunch. 

Yaniga said he primarily saw other faculty members and members of the community at the clinic. He explained the reason for his support of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

“My only motivation is that students can actually come to class because that’s the whole reason why we have these face-to-face classes,” he said, “and I would like everybody to do what they can to ensure that that happens.” 

Director of Health Services Brock Lutz commented on the relationship between the college and the hospital in providing medical care for the students. 

“We are always happy to partner with the hospital, in this way and others, to provide the best services and opportunities for people to be as healthy as possible,” he said.