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CSUB becomes a vaccination hub for community

By California State University, Bakersfield

March 26^th, 2021

On Friday, March 26, CSU Bakersfield welcomed the first wave of community members to receive vaccinations against COVID-19. The ambitious initiative has the capacity to protect some 400,000 people - nearly half the population of Kern County - by June.

Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health Hospitals and Adventist Health, along with nursing students from CSUB, will staff the Mass Vaccination Hub at the Student Recreation Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week for 13 weeks. Appointments are required; walk-ins will not be permitted.

Photo of officials at press conference for vaccination site

“CSUB’s driving mission is to make higher education open to everyone in our community,” said CSUB President Lynnette Zelezny during the grand opening of the Mass Vaccination Hub on Wednesday. “That same principle – access – guides this effort.”

During Wednesday’s event, representatives of the underserved, local school districts, elected officials and leaders of the health-care consortium toured the Student Recreation Center and encouraged residents to get vaccinated.

“Our vision for this hub, No. 1, is to end this pandemic,” said David Womack, senior vice president at Kaiser Permanente in Bakersfield.

“No. 2 is to spread hope and joy.”

Daniel Wolcott, the new president of Adventist Health’s Kern County operations, said the pandemic “has tested every one of us.”

“This fight has brought out the best in our community and caregivers,” he said.

Photo of President Zelezny

Ken Keller, president and chief executive officer at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, praised his partners in the consortium for “uniting in a common cause that unites us.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that all Californians 50 and over will be eligible to receive the vaccine as of April 1, and those 16 and older will be eligible for the vaccine on April 15.

To learn whether you are eligible for the vaccine and to make an appointment at the Mass Vaccination Hub, please visit MyTurn.ca.gov.

To learn everything you need to know about CSUB’s Mass Vaccination Hub, visit csub.edu/vaccines

Photo of vaccination site

Here's a recap of Wednesday's event, in case you missed it:

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Footnotes

Photos by Hannah Banks

FootNotes

Photos by Hannah Banks

© 2026 California State University, Bakersfield

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