Community Gives Positive Reviews of COVID Vaccine Administering at BJC
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center became a COVID-19 vaccine distribution location this past week. Staff at the BJC gave out over 1,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday and Tuesday, allowing people who fell under Phase 1A of Pennsylvania’s rollout plan to make an appointment.
The vaccine distribution center, which was operated by Centre Volunteers in Medicine, received glowing reviews from many who received their vaccine.
Alicia Bettes, a Bellefonte local who is employed by AccuWeather Inc. in State College, outlined the streamlined process.
“The experience is easy-breezy: If you sign up for your appointment, you don’t have to wait longer than 10 minutes, maybe, if you show up.” Bettes said, “Maybe about five or 10 minutes before your appointment, you get in, it’s one-two-three, you’re done. [Then] you wait your 15 minutes after the vaccine to make sure you have no side effects, and you’re free!”
State college resident Shelby Maynard echoed the words of praise for the distribution’s efficiency.
“Actually, it was wonderful; it was very well organized, everybody was very helpful, very courteous,” Maynard said. “Couldn’t ask for a better situation.”
All appointments were booked for the two days that the distribution was available at the BJC this week, but the good reviews of the system may lead to another round of vaccines being administered there.
In a press release last month, Penn State President Eric Barron said that the university had purchased a freezer suited for vaccine storage and also has plans in place to administer vaccines in the future.
Penn State has also publicly announced its plans to return to in-person classes in the fall, and with the university doing what it can to assist with vaccine distribution, it is moving closer to achieving that goal.
Matt Rudisill is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mpr5529@psu.edu.
