Drexel Medical Professionals Among the First to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

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Drexel’s Director of Student Health Services, Janet Cruz, MD, received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 18 at a vaccination clinic for front line health care providers directed by the Philadelphia Public Health Department. Administering the vaccine was Drexel’s own College of Nursing & Health Professions Assistant Clinical Professor Kim McClellan, EdD, who is also a volunteer member of the Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). McClellan also was vaccinated Dec. 18.

“Receiving the vaccine today, administered by one of our Drexel COVID operation co-leads, was a great moment,” said Cruz. “For me it is an added layer of protection so I can continue to serve, both in and out of the hospital setting. Our work is still ahead and we, as a community, need to continue to mask and keep each other healthy.”

Both Cruz and McClellan have been on the front line at Drexel since the pandemic began, providing COVID-19 testing and assessments to Drexel students and employees. 

“I can say that today feels wonderfully surreal,” said McClellan. “For Janet and I to come full circle today with vaccination — from when we started in March to dive into this great unknown, the move to testing and now the vaccine — it feels like a glimmer of hope today instead of a lunge into the cold dark winter! Also for our group to come in one by one to be vaccinated by the MRC and Philadelphia Department of Public Health — what a partnership in this fight together to keep our Philadelphia community safe.”