APSU now an official Montgomery County COVID-19 vaccination site
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. 鈥 Montgomery County has a new partner in its battle against the COVID-19 pandemic 鈥 Austin Peay State University. Early Wednesday morning, the University received word from the Tennessee Department of Health that Austin Peay was now an official vaccination site for the county. APSU expects to receive its first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine next week.
鈥淎ustin Peay is a vital part of this community, and our faculty, staff and students have worked hard throughout this pandemic to provide current scientific information and resources to keep all Clarksville-Montgomery County residents safe,鈥 Dannelle Whiteside, interim APSU president said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to begin administering these vaccines to protect our friends and neighbors, and hopefully bring an end to this pandemic.鈥
The University has spent the last three months preparing to become a county vaccination site. While waiting for the state to approve its application, Austin Peay鈥檚 physical plant set up vaccine tents in parking lot 11, next to the Ard Building, and the University鈥檚 nursing faculty and students prepared themselves to begin administering doses.
鈥淥nce we receive our doses from the state, we鈥檒l give the vaccine only to individuals who have made an appointment through the state鈥檚 ,鈥 Michael Kasitz, APSU assistant vice president for public safety, said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檒l dispense the vaccine following Tennessee鈥檚 phased vaccination plan, which means we won鈥檛 accept any walk-in appointments.鈥
Last month, Austin Peay opened a new clinical laboratory on campus for testing and vaccines. The lab has an 鈥渦ltra-freeze鈥 freezer, which is necessary to hold the vaccines.
These freezers are 鈥渧ery hard to come by, they鈥檙e very pricey and most people don鈥檛 have them,鈥 Dr. Heather Phillips, the clinic鈥檚 director, said. Joey Smith, Montgomery County鈥檚 public health director, 鈥渁sked if the university would be willing to help not only store the vaccine for the Clarksville community but if we would also be willing to vaccinate part of the community.鈥
For information on Tennessee鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccination plans, visit .
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