School of Pharmacy produces, delivers hand sanitizer

Clean hands are the best defense to contracting the Coronavirus, but a nationwide shortage of hand sanitizer has made that a difficult challenge for many.

The University of Kansas School of Pharmacy has stepped up to provide some relief to those in the KU and Lawrence community who must continue working during the Coronavirus crisis. Pharmaceutical Chemistry Professor Michael Hageman and staff from Biopharmaceutical Innovation and Optimization Center have volunteered their time over the past few weeks to produce batches of much-needed hand sanitizer.

The School of Pharmacy delivered more than 400 bottles to places including Watkins Health Services, KU Facilities and Operations, The Willow Domestic Violence Shelter and several area child and senior care providers. KU’s Department of Chemistry supplied the raw materials needed to mix the hand sanitizer.

School of Pharmacy Dean Ronald Ragan said the school made it a priority to get the sanitizer into the hands of those members of our campus and community that don’t have the option of quarantining, those people who are on the front line of this fight day in and day out.

“The health of our community is a responsibility we all share,” Ragan said. “We’re thankful to all of those who are working to keep our university and community going during this health crisis and to our partners at KU who joined us in this effort.”