COVID-19 Vaccination Pledge: Why the SON Community is Administering and Receiving Vaccinations

Various student vaccination photos.

For the past year, UB nurses have worked tirelessly to prevent the spread of the virus around the globe—but their work is not yet done. Now, they're taking the next great step to protect our communities by volunteering to receive and administer COVID-19 vaccines.

Here are their #UBuffaloStrong stories.

On this page:

Nursing Students

  • Emily Snyder holding her vaccine record.

    Emily Snyder

    "I chose to get vaccinated to protect my community."

  • Rena Kessel and Cara holding her vaccine record.

    Rena Kessel

    "I am very fortunate to be a part of a population that was able to get vaccinated in order to help other members of the community and I am grateful that I was able to take this step to make a positive difference in the world of health care!"

    Cara Wojtach

    "I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to be among one of the first groups to be vaccinated and am glad I have the potential to protect others in the process. "

  • Ross Kean holding his vaccine record.

    Ross Kean

    "I received the COVID-19 vaccine to protect myself and my loved ones from COVID-19, and because of my personal experiences with the virus. During the pandemic, I worked in the ICUs at two different hospitals, and I saw some of the sickest patients I'd ever seen. I want to do everything I can to keep myself, and anyone who comes into contact with me safe, so when I had the opportunity, I received the vaccine. "

  • Kara DiTucci holding her vaccine sticker.

    Kara DiTucci

    “I got vaccinated! This vaccine may cause: a sore arm, excitement, a mild headache, fatigue (and other symptoms showing that your body is forming an immune response!), and smiles! This was an easy and extremely important decision to make. Over the last 10 months, I have been working closely with patients with COVID-19. Seeing the distress these patients are enduring along with losing so many of them to this virus, I made the decision to better protect myself as well as others by getting this vaccine. COVID-19 can cause serious and life-threatening complications that have been shown in research to date. Proper mask-wearing, social distancing and this revolutionary vaccine can all help prevent you, your family and friends from contracting this virus, and get this pandemic under control!”

  • Kelly Lou receiving her vaccination.

    Kelly Luo

    "Getting vaccinated is important because it protects your health and the health of your community. Many serious diseases in the past have been mitigated through the development of vaccines, and it is truly amazing that science has advanced far enough that we are able to combat viruses like COVID-19 through a convenient shot. My experience was smooth; it was quick and painless, thanks to the skill of the nurse practitioner that administered the injection."

  • Sarah Turano and Devyn Clifford holding their vaccine records.

    Devyn Clifford

    "The reason I got the vaccine is because as a future nurse it is my duty to help prevent the spread of this virus and the vaccine is just one of the many ways of doing that. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to receive the vaccine so early."

    Sarah Turano

    "As a member of the healthcare community, it was an honor to be vaccinated as a nursing student. I am proud to set an example for the public to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and protect others, as well as myself. This gives us hope for a safe and healthy future ahead!”

  • Nicole Smith

    "So far so good...got my second dose of the Moderna vaccine on Tuesday. Feeling very positive about it and looking forward to getting back to life as we once knew it! Stay safe and healthy everyone!"

  • Rileigh Moag holding her vaccine record.

    Rileigh Moag

    "I believe it is important to get vaccinated to protect the community, your family and friends, and yourself. I am very happy I was able to get vaccinated so I can protect the patients I am caring for during clinical. My experience with the vaccine was very smooth and  the only symptom I had was a sore arm. The nurse told me her biggest tip to have minimal symptoms is to stay hydrated post vaccine! "

  • Jaylieen with vaccination sticker.

    Jaylieen Camacho

    "Getting vaccinated is important because it protects your health and the health of your community. Many serious diseases in the past have been mitigated through the development of vaccines, and it is truly amazing that science has advanced far enough that we are able to combat viruses like COVID-19 through a convenient shot. My experience was smooth; it was quick and painless, thanks to the skill of the nurse practitioner that administered the injection."

  • Margaret Kent

    "As a Family Nurse Practitioner working in the Emergency Department I have seen a reduction in COVID-19 patients since the vaccination started. The Nursing Homes were flooded with COVID -19 and now two of the local Nursing Homes in the community I work in are COVID-19 FREE!!! There has been an associated reduction in COVID-19 cases in the ED, in the ICCU, and on the floors. This has resulted in fewer deaths. FINALLY, there is a breath of fresh air and a light at the end of the tunnel. I am now back in Grad school after many years and plan to obtain my second MSN as a Mental Health Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. There is such a need and am learning SO MUCH! Never to late for education. DON'T WAIT- VACCINATE."

  • Bikash Regmi

    Nursing student receiving his vaccine.

    "I tested positive for COVID myself, and it was not easy. I took the COVID vaccine to protect myself from reinfection, as we don’t know how long the immunity lasts. Getting COVID Vaccine also helps me protect my family, especially our baby, who will be born on May 10, friends, and the community. As a health care provider, receiving a COVID vaccine myself sends a message to the community, the vaccine is safe and helps build confidence in the public. Throughout the pandemic, I did many educational sessions, mostly virtual, to educate the public about the COVID and the importance of getting the COVID vaccine."

  • Chris Palumbo holding his vaccine card.

    Chris Palumbo

    "By getting vaccinated, we are able to protect our families, friends, and ourselves. We are able to take the burden off of the healthcare system that they’ve been faced with for almost a year now by lowering hospitalizations. I received the Moderna vaccine and had little to no side effects after both my first and second doses. The vaccines are safe and very effective and everyone should consider getting any of the 3 vaccines when you’re eligible!"

Nursing Faculty & Staff

  • Josh holding vaccine card.

    Joshua Altemoos

    "It is important to get vaccinated because we are all a part of the solution to this pandemic; each person who gets it helps us get closer to herd immunity. For me, getting the vaccine has helped ensure that I increase my ability to fight the virus both physically, but also allows me to better be there for my family, my community and for my students and fellow faculty and staff." 

  • Carla with vaccine supplies.

    Carla Jungquist, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN

    "I’ve being volunteering for the Monroe County Vaccine Initiative. I have lost count on how many vaccines that I have given. It has been great fun. 
    This past Sunday I walked some of the neighborhoods in Rochester that are high incident rates and went door to door signing people up for their vaccines. That was fun also, although wet and cold as it was raining."

Community Members

  • Carka administering vaccine to Elizabeth.

    Elizabeth Gilliam-May (Rochester, NY)

    From Carla Jungquist: "This is Elizabeth Gilliam-Mayo. She was so excited to get her vaccine that she took this picture and sent a copy to me. She said to post it where other people of color can see it to inspire others to get the vaccine as well."

  • Carole Fisher, BS '74

    Nursing student receiving his vaccine.

    "Although I left nursing 22 years ago for a career in food and nutrition education, I still maintained an inactive nursing license in New York. I fully retired from Cornell Cooperative Extension in 2015.

    Once I received my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, I applied to volunteer to help vaccinate New Yorkers in my community of Ithaca, NY. I’ve been volunteering at the vaccination clinic for 3 weeks now and am so glad to be able to help in this huge effort. Once a nurse, always a nurse!"