Nursing students administer vaccines to refugees

UofL nursing students are helping prevent diseases by administering vaccinations to the refugee population. This is the first year UofL Schools of Nursing, Medicine and Public Health & Information Sciences have teamed up with Catholic Charities and the Kentucky Office of Refugees to offer Tdap, varicella, MMR, influenza and Td vaccines to refugees as they work toward citizenship.

The project is led by School of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases faculty Ruth Carrico, PhD, FSHEA, RN, CIC, associate professor and Julio Ramirez, MD, FACP, division chief and professor. 

“It is an opportunity to teach our nursing and public health students about existing health disparities and how we can improve our capabilities as we learn more about the unique and varied cultures represented by these individuals. It is a priceless experience for all of us,”  Carrico said.

The clinic is offered weekly through Dec. 6.