UAMS Offers Booster COVID Vaccines in Northwest Arkansas
| FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Northwest Regional Campus will begin offering booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to qualifying individuals on Monday, Sept. 27, at its drive-thru Vaccine Clinic at 1100 N. Woolsey Ave. in Fayetteville. No appointments are necessary.
In accordance with FDA authorization, booster doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine will be administered to those who are 65 years or older, have chronic health conditions that put them at risk for severe disease, and those at risk of serious complications due to frequent exposure to the coronavirus at their jobs. Individuals must have previously received the Pfizer vaccine for doses one and two – the second of which must have been at least six months ago.
Qualifying health conditions may include being overweight, pregnancy, diabetes, immunosuppression, heart or lung disease, chronic kidney disease, sickle cell disease, neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy or a medical-related technological dependence such as tracheostomy, gastrostomy, or positive pressure ventilation (not related to COVID-19).
The drive-thru clinic is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
First and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine are also available. All COVID-19 vaccines are free to the patient and will be billed to the patient’s insurance, if available. UAMS continues to offer third doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID vaccines to moderate to severely immunocompromised UAMS patients at the drive-thru clinic at least 28 days after their second dose.
“We strongly recommend all eligible individuals to get vaccinated as a way to protect themselves, their loved ones, and our community at large,” said Sharon Reece, M.D., UAMS Northwest Regional Campus COVID-19 vaccine physician lead. “We are here to answer your questions, provide access and support, and deliver excellent clinical care to all comers.”
“Our number-one goal is the health and welfare of the people of our region and our state,” said Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., vice chancellor of the UAMS Northwest Campus. “We are happy to be able to provide the booster to eligible individuals in Northwest Arkansas and will continue to do everything possible to help the people in our communities live healthy lives.”
“We are here to help keep Arkansans healthy, and right now the best way to do this is easy and convenient access to vaccines,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “Many Arkansans who are at higher risk of complications from COVID due to their age, underlying health conditions or exposure to the virus at their job have been anxiously awaiting access to a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine. We are ready to serve these individuals, along with people who now want to get their first or second dose of the vaccine.”
UAMS also offers COVID and influenza vaccines at 25 other sites across the state. Learn more at uams.health/covidvaccine.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute and Institute for Digital Health & Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise including its hospital, regional clinics and clinics it operates or staffs in cooperation with other providers. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. U.S. News & World Report recognized UAMS Medical Center as a Best Hospital for 2021-22; ranked its ear, nose and throat program among the top 50 nationwide for the third year; and named five areas as high performing — colon cancer surgery, diabetes, hip replacement, knee replacement and stroke. Forbes magazine ranked UAMS as seventh in the nation on its Best Employers for Diversity list. UAMS also ranked in the top 30% nationwide on Forbes’ Best Employers for Women list and was the only Arkansas employer included. UAMS has 2,876 students, 898 medical residents and six dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.
The UAMS Northwest Regional Campus includes 290 medical, pharmacy, nursing and health professions students, 64 medical and pharmacy residents, two sports medicine fellows, and 1,000 community-based faculty. The campus has nine clinics including a student-led clinic and physical, occupational and speech therapy. Faculty conduct research to reduce health disparities. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.