Over 4 thousand people vaccinated at the University Immunization Marathon ”From student to student”

At the university immunization marathon From student to student, organized by Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, in 54 hours, 4068 citizens have been immunized, of which 2500 with Pfizer, 1188 with AstraZeneca, and 380 with Sinopharm. Through this action, which took place between May 21-23, in the context of the national vaccination campaign against COVID-19, the University initially aimed to vaccinate as many young people and academic staff members as possible, in order to resume the teaching process as of September 1st , with their physical presence in the classrooms. Anyway, all citizens over the age of 18 have the right to be vaccinated, as on the eve of the event, the launch of the third stage of vaccination against COVID-19 has been announced.

For this purpose, on the University Campus from Malina Mica sector of the capital, two vaccination points have been opened: in Leonid Cobaleanschi Didactic Block No. 1 – 4 flows (27 Nicolae Testemitanu str.) and at the University Sociocultural Complex – 6 immunization lines (25 Nicolae Testemitanu str.).

"We have joined our efforts and proved that it is possible! Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy is an eloquent example of professionalism, competence and social responsibility. These days, people have shown openness to vaccination, and this is the most important thing. It is necessary to act in order to promote immunization among the population, this is the only way to get out of this public health crisis", emphasized Emil Ceban, University Rector, during the final event of the marathon.

Professor Ceban had a special message for the doctors who took part in the immunization action: “You have asserted yourself as true professionals and you have confirmed once again that you are the best of the best! And we, your teachers, are proud of you! We have confidence in tomorrow and hope that with you, the local medicine has a future here, at home".

The Rector of the University has expressed his gratitude to all the work teams for their effort and solidarity, for their contribution to this immunization action – a premiere for our country. Among them, there were 12 family doctors and 24 nurses from Nicolae Testemitanu University Primary Health Care Clinic, 39 resident doctors from Anesthesiology and Intensive Care and Family Medicine specialties as well as 118 students-volunteers, including from the General Health Care specialty, who provided logistics and registration support and participated directly in the vaccination. The process has been constantly monitored by the academic staff of the clinical departments and administrative personnel. Overall, about 400 members of the university community were involved in the good organization and conduct of the event..

In the opinion of Denis Cernelea, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, present at the closing ceremony of the marathon, this event had a special impact: "The first marathon deserves to be a successful title and will be an example for other similar activities. The number of over 4 thousand vaccinated people is equal to the number of people immunized in one day in the over 60 vaccination points of Chisinau. In this way, we managed to reduce, by a few days, the period of exit from the pandemic, proving that only together we can overcome this complicated period". In particular, the Health official thanked all the students and resident doctors directly involved in the marathon, who dedicated themselves unconditionally for three days, some of them working at the COVID-19 Center in Chisinau.

In turn Marcel Abraș, Vice-Rector for social activity, has underlined that these three days have been extremely busy, involving an enormous amount of work and great responsibility: “You have shown that being a medical student means more than sitting on the University benches, it means special social responsibility and continuous involvement in everything that happens in the health system, by providing support to achieve a common goal. The basic objective at the current stage is to vaccinate the population and reach the threshold of total immunization”. The vice-rector also believes that the immunization of over 4 thousand people is the first step in this regard, expressing hope that the immunization wave will be in vogue among the population, allowing everybody in September to return to the University classrooms and hospitals to learn medicine as before the pandemic, at the patient's bedside.

According to Gheorghe Buruiană, President of the Association of Medical Students and Residents of Moldova (ASRM), members of the medical students’ organization have actively participated in this event, helping to promote mass immunization in order to get rid of this infection as quickly as possible. "Sincere thanks to all colleagues who accepted this challenge and became volunteers, working between 6 and 12 hours in a row. You are the ones who have contributed to the success of the marathon, and you deserve to become a doctor and promote health further. I am convinced that the more such students there are at the University, the stronger our health system will be", has underlined the president of ASRM.

The university immunization marathon has been organized in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, the Association of Medical Students and Residents of Moldova, and with the support of the Rectors’ Council of Moldova.

Between June 11-13, Nicolae Testemitanu University will also provide the booster doses (second dose) for Sinopharm and Pfizer vaccines, and on July 16-18 – for AstraZeneca.

More photos see on: https://www.facebook.com/usmf.md/photos/pcb.4193963527322702/4193958313989890/