Amy Bowers, junior nursing major, received her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine last month — the second dose, a few days ago.
Bowers trusted the science behind the vaccine.
Bowers is one of several Belmont students who work in healthcare who have begun to receive their COVID-19 vaccines.
“I trusted the FDA and all the scientists that put their knowledge and practice into making the vaccine, I trusted that it was okay,” said Bowers, who comes in contact with patients at TriStar Medical Center where she does her weekly hands-on clinicals.
“I didn’t have any side effects, just my arm was really sore,” said Bowers.
Another Belmont student, Courtney Gaskamp, a senior public health major, comes in contact with patients as a care partner in the palliative end-of-life care unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Gaskamp was able to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine through her job at Vanderbilt.
“I wasn’t really nervous about what’s in the vaccine because I know it will do some good,” said Gaskamp.
Gaskamp’s side effects included a sore arm and a headache.
“It was kind of like a flu shot,” she said.
Both women expressed the importance of keeping their patients safe.
Gaskamp decided to get the vaccine in order to protect her patients. Her patients in the palliative care unit are in the high-risk category for COVID-19.
“I also take care of COVID patients and I’m working on the unit,” said Gaskamp. “Having protection against the virus is such a big deal and such an honor to get.”
Bowers works on different floors each week of her clinicals and sees all different types of patients, making it even more important to her to stay safe.
“I think it’s important to protect the vulnerable population,“ said Bowers. “It not only protects me, but it protects my patients that I see every week.”
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This article written by Allison Fedorchek.