When Elizabeth Welsby, a resident of Chapel Hill, started working at a COVID-19 vaccination center, she was struck by the reactions of some of the patients.
“We’ve seen people, particularly older people, break down in tears just with the happiness of getting the vaccine,” she said.
Welsby, a local nonprofit worker, is one of many volunteers around the country working to make sure the vaccination distribution process runs smoothly. As the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines begins around the country, volunteers have been essential in helping many around Orange County gain immunity to the virus.
“We have multitudes of volunteers of all ages throughout the county, at different capacities,” Orange County Health Department’s deputy press officer Krishnaveni Balakrishnan said. “We have some students that are assisting behind the scenes. We’ve got a lot of interns working on the phones.”
Welsby, who signed up after hearing about the opportunity from a friend, recounts the work she’s been doing as a volunteer.
“I have worked as both a screener and an educator,” Welsby said. “A screener is someone that makes sure that incoming people have an appointment, and also makes sure that they’re eligible for an appointment. The educator gives facts on the vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna and their possible side effects, and then also encourages people to register with the CDC.”
Still, there are many other jobs that volunteers can take at a vaccination site, as Welsby explained.
“If you’re not a health professional, you can do screening, checking people into parking, traffic flow and educating. There have also been a lot of professionals: EMTs, retired nurses, who are giving the vaccine and monitoring the patients.”
These services have become especially important as the vaccination program prepares to expand to more residents throughout the county. Currently being vaccinated in North Carolina are Groups 1 and 2, including all people over 65, healthcare workers and caregivers. Teachers have also been able to access the vaccine since Feb. 24.
“We’ve been trying to make this process as streamlined as possible,” Balakrishnan said. “After a person completes a survey, if they fall into the current stage and group that we’re vaccinating, they will be contacted. They will set up their appointment, and then they just drive in, connect to a pod, get their shot, and they’re done.”
With the vaccination program entering these new horizons, there has been no shortage in volunteers signing up for work.
“It’s hard now to get a shift to sign up for because the slots go so quickly,” Welsby said. “But this is going to be a long rollout. So I hope that the initial excitement people have to help won’t wear off, because I think that they’re going to need these volunteers for a long time.”
Above all else, Welsby is glad that her work is going to help others and to make the vaccination process easier for the recipients.
“We’re trying to make it a positive experience for everyone. People are a little anxious, but putting them at ease and connecting with them has just been really rewarding.”
Senior citizens can access the vaccination survey here.
People looking to volunteer to help with vaccinations can take their own survey here.
Photo courtesy of NIAID
