Miami Dade College worked out a deal Friday that makes it possible for its employees who are 65 and older to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinations could start as early as this week.
Eligible employees must make an appointment through Jackson Health System, a nonprofit academic medical system in Miami, to receive the shot. Faculty and staff who qualify must use a link the College provided them via email.
The College hopes to expand the vaccination efforts to include students and other employees once Florida legislation allows it. Currently, only healthcare workers, long-term care facility residents and staff, and people 65 and older can receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Hearing this news is really refreshing and gives students and faculty hope that the end is near,” said Anthony Valenzuela, president of the Kendall Campus Student Government Association. “I am proud of MDC taking the necessary steps to make all the campuses safe for everyone.”
The College is also talking with Jackson Health, Baptist Health of South Florida and its Miami Cancer Institute about the possibility of having students and faculty in the school’s medical assistant, physician assistant and nursing programs—who are trained in inoculation—help administer the COVID-19 vaccine so healthcare workers can stay on the frontlines.
“The Miami Cancer Institute is a good example because their patients can’t leave the hospital setting, so our students and faculty are really needed to go to the hospital and help administer that vaccine,” said Medical Campus President Bryan Stewart. “And if they are selected to do that, as frontline workers they will be vaccinated so it’s a real bonus for our College.”
In addition, North, Kendall and Medical Campus could potentially serve as vaccination sites. Partners would provide the vaccines, which would be administered for free by qualified MDC faculty and students on campus in designated locations away from buildings.
“I think that, especially where some of our campuses are located, we can be very helpful in getting the vaccine out there,” Stewart said. “Right now we’re just at the first phase of it [but] as more and more of the vaccine is available, I think our campuses are a logical place to help get that vaccine out.”
