Staff and volunteers celebrated the success of the UT Dallas community COVID-19 vaccine site at the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center after the final vaccination was administered on July 6.

University of Texas at Dallas leaders applauded the efforts of staff, volunteers and UT Southwestern Medical Center personnel as the community COVID-19 vaccine site on campus delivered its final shot on July 6.

Health care professionals at the site, which opened March 15 and was operated by UT Southwestern, administered more than 49,000 doses and utilized more than 1,000 volunteers from the community.

“The vaccination clinic was an outstanding partnership that made a difference in our community,” said Dr. Rafael Martín, UT Dallas vice president and chief of staff. “Our hope in March was that this clinic would help our region return to normalcy. While COVID-19 remains a concern, the availability and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccinations have given us confidence that we can safely reopen campus this fall.”

The site was located at the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center and operated six days a week. At its peak, the facility provided approximately 1,600 doses a day.

David Lee

“This has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I feel that a weight has been lifted off the community. You see people happier, with a sense of security, because they feel safe.”

Dr. David Lee, a UT Southwestern Medical Center pharmacist who worked at the clinic

“We had some very busy days,” said Dr. David Lee, a UT Southwestern pharmacist who worked at the clinic the entire time. “As the weeks progressed, however, the pace slowed.”

While UT Southwestern personnel administered many of the vaccinations and monitored individuals after they received the injections, UT Dallas students, staff and faculty played important roles in the operation of the clinic. Administrators of the alumni center ensured that facility needs were handled, and numerous other volunteers guided visitors around the site.

Members of the University Emergency Medical Response team at UT Dallas logged 1,575 volunteer hours at the site, vaccinating and monitoring patients while also handling clinical issues such as anxiety and allergic reactions.

“I think it really impacted our team members,” said Sheila Elliott, UEMR director. “They were able to participate in something bigger than UEMR and our campus. It helped extend their knowledge and their capacity to the broader community.”

Comets Care

Comets are stepping up to make an impact in the fight against COVID-19. Read their stories on the University Outreach webpage.

After the final vaccine dose (No. 49,151) was administered, UT Dallas hosted a reception for staff and volunteers to celebrate the success of the site.

“One reason the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center was built was to provide a place for community events,” said John Kyle, events and operations manager for the center. “During the past four months, there was no better use for this facility than to provide a place for our community to get vaccinated.”

UT Dallas plans to partner with a local pharmacy this fall so that students, staff and faculty will be able to obtain vaccinations. Details will be announced soon.

Lee said working at the vaccination site was invigorating and fulfilling.

“This has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said. “I feel that a weight has been lifted off the community. You see people happier, with a sense of security, because they feel safe.”