Vaccine events bring hope and joy
Published 12:50 pm Thursday, March 11, 2021
First-year Southside Virginia Community College nursing student Fatima Lara-Juarez administers the COVID-19 vaccine to Barbara Jones, of Rice, Friday, March 5, at the PEFYA Gym.
Nurse Ginger Downes gives Centra PACE patient Mary Brown her second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Annie Dungee, a Centra PACE participant, receives her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from Nurse Ginger Downes.
Cornelius Jones, of Rice, receives the COVID-19 vaccine from firstyear Southside Virginia Community College nursing student Nancy Lara-Juarez at the PEFYA Gym.
Lou Bertha Carter makes her creative addition to a painting that was a collaboration of Centra PACE participants receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. PACE Recreation Therapist Elise Hemmer provides the paint.
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Friday, March 5, was a day of hope amidst the pandemic in Prince Edward County as COVID-19 vaccine shots were being distributed in multiple locations, including the Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association (PEFYA) Gymnasium and Centra Southside Community Hospital.
Centra Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) participants were bussed to the hospital where they received their shots.
Meanwhile, the PEFYA Gym was also buzzing with activity in the effort to administer 550 shots in a day to residents by appointment. Helping make that happen were members of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Department of Health’s Piedmont Health District, the Prince Edward County government and volunteers from Farmville Cares and Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC).
SVCC had 10 first-year nursing students on hand from the Keysville campus to help give vaccinations.
Patsy Watson, coordinator for Farmville Cares, said the organization had about 42 volunteers that had helped at the event for different short periods of time, including Longwood University students, pastors and retired teachers.
Reflecting on the tone of the event as it unfolded, she described the mood of those receiving the vaccine as that of gratefulness and relief.
“Really, it’s a joyful experience to be part of this,” she said. “People are happy.”
PHOTOS BY TITUS MOHLER
