BC nursing students to staff COVID-19 vaccination clinic
Registered nursing students at Bakersfield College have stepped up to staff a COVID-19 vaccination clinic currently underway at Bakersfield Heart Hospital.
Third semester students are currently serving as screeners, providing injections and monitoring participants for complications at the clinic going on for the next 10 weeks, according to Bakersfield College. Currently, Bakersfield Heart Hospital is vaccinating people eligible in Phase 1 a, Tiers 1-3.
Students who staff these clinics will also be offered the vaccine. BC students were eager to step up, staff said.
“Within one hour of the request, BC’s third semester RN students had filled all requested spots,” said Alisha Loken, BC’s Nursing Department chair and professor of nursing, in a release. “We are so proud to be doing our part for the community, as Renegades and as a vital part of the health care system, to assist with this important vaccine rollout, to stop the spread, and begin the ending of such a challenging pandemic.”
The Community Health Initiative of Kern County,
part of Mercy and Memorial Hospitals’ Department of Special Needs and Community Outreach, is helping Kern residents enroll in or renew their health insurance.
According to a news release from Dignity Health, the Community Health Initiative’s service is free of charge and is designed to help clients with the following:
• Submitting new applications for Medi-Cal or Covered California
• Completing the Medi-Cal or Covered California renewal application
• Enrolling in Medicare (assistance provided by CHI
Napa Life & Health Agents)
• Reporting income changes to Medi-Cal or Covered California
• Choosing a health plan and a physician
• Booking physician or specialist appointments
• Understanding their health coverage
• Resolving eligibility issues
• Resolving any health services issues
The Community Health Initiative will provide assistance by telephone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Assistance is also available Saturday, Jan. 16 and Saturday, Jan. 30.
For questions or to get help with enrollment, please call 632-5018.
The news release states that Californians are required to have health coverage or may be subject to a penalty on state taxes. It also said that Covered California’s Open Enrollment will end Jan. 31.
The Blessing Corner will host a drive-up food distribution from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday at 101 Union Ave.
All are welcome to participate and masks are mandatory.
For more information, visit theblessingcorner.com.