Pair of Southern Chester County Natives Research COVID-Related Issues at Neumann University

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Image of Madison Lipford and Joseph Kendrick via Neumann University.

Two Neumann University students from southern Chester County tackled COVID-related topics for their fall research projects. As members of the school’s honors program, both focused on issues that connect to their prospective career paths in nursing and education.

Madison Lipford, a nursing major from West Grove who wants to be a pediatric nurse, investigated whether children should receive a coronavirus vaccine when one is available.

“The virus has taken over the whole country, and it could be around for years,” she said. “I may have to give the vaccine when I’m a nurse, so I want to learn as much about it as I can.”

She notes that hundreds of thousands of cases have occurred in children (those under 18), who are at a lower risk of serious consequences from the disease, and that “children have an immune system that’s different than adults, and they need a completely different vaccine.”

From her research, Lipford has learned that “a few companies are tiptoeing around a vaccine for children, but most are focused on a vaccine for adults. They want to make sure it’s safe for adults first.”

She concludes that “in the past, vaccines have been successfully created to help children fight off diseases such as tuberculosis and tetanus … and most experts seem to agree that children should be vaccinated” when an appropriate vaccine is available.

Joseph Kendrick, a freshman from Oxford, has been researching the inequalities of virtual learning. He is concerned that the achievement gap between low-income and other children is widening because of the pandemic.

His research has shown that various inequalities exist in education, usually connected to “financial status, geographical location, race, and students with disabilities.” Virtual learning is increasing these educational gaps because of “lack of technology, lack of Internet access, lack of wealth, and limited resources.”

He also notes that the issue of “equal access to electronic resources” like iPads and Wi-Fi will continue when the health crisis ends: “The pandemic has exacerbated this situation, but the disparity will still exist after COVID.”

Kendrick concludes that political leadership and government funding may be necessary to address these issues.

Both students have impressed Professor James Kain.

“These are freshmen doing their first semester of college under strange and challenging circumstances, yet they have shown an amazing amount of self-discipline, responsibility, and purpose,” he said.  “And they have each picked research topics that are not only relevant but driven by a sense of concern for others and for the truth.”

Click here to learn more about Neumann University.

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