UIC College of Pharmacy Helps Move the Needle on the COVID-19 Vaccine Illinois Rollout
Once the FDA approved and allowed for the distribution of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, pharmacy leaders at UIC College of Pharmacy hit the ground running -- working diligently to coordinate the rollout. Based on prioritization guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Illinois Department of Public Health, pharmacists were able to identify individuals within the 1A group (health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities) and started administering the vaccine in late December.
Dr. Chris Schriever, Clinical Pharmacist and Clinical Assistant Professor on the Rockford campus, is serving as the Team Lead for the Population Vaccine Team in Winnebago county. “It finally feels like we’re turning a corner, and we’re excited that the vaccine is now available. However, it has been challenging logistically,” said Dr. Schriever. He added, “We’re traveling from health system to health system up here, due to space limitations, ensuring that individuals within the 1A group can get vaccinated.”
Dr. Marianne Pop, Clinical Pharmacist and Clinical Assistant Professor, is serving as the Logistics Team Lead, and Dr. Alex Thorp, the Rockford campus’ first PGY1 pharmacy practice resident, is serving as the Co-Lead for the operation. Drs. Schriever, Pop, and Thorp have been participating on the Winnebago County Vaccine Planning Committee since August 2020, in preparation for the vaccine’s approval and eventual distribution.
Our student pharmacists have been instrumental in assisting with the COVID-19 vaccine efforts as well. P4 students Jacob Seiver and Aaron Hunt worked with P1 students Natalie Moreno and Samuel Fordjour to prepare COVID-19 vaccines, ultimately overseen by Drs. Schriever, Pop, and Thorp.
“We are still trying to finish phase 1A before moving forward to phase 1B. Despite logistical hurdles, UIC students continue to impact their community positively,” said Dr. Schriever, who praised the work that his students have done to help end this pandemic.