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If you haven’t yet received your shot, you haven’t witnessed the long lineups, the registration, the paperwork, and then waiting for 15 minutes after the shot. Not too different from kitchen work in a restaurant, preparing a vaccination clinic is a time-consuming project. Much happens before you arrive and after you leave. Really the injection portion is the easiest and probably the fastest part of the process. It is the hours of preparation for the actual clinic times that take the effort. From the booking of appointments, entering data into the CovaxON system, screening vaccine recipients and moving people through the system, drawing up the vaccine into each syringe; each phase takes time and effort. People don’t think of the behind-the-scenes, only how and when they can get the shot. Clinic Day 1 was the day Rogers and Fido were down. That meant many people were unable to receive their pre-screening forms and we couldn’t reach them by phone. Well, like the theatre, the show must go on. We definitely weren’t ready, but we just had to go manual. Clients really were kind, appreciative, and remarkably patient. Most did not realize the struggles behind the scenes. It was a long day for all on the team, each being exhausted, but ridiculously satisfied.
By Clinic Day 3 we were in a groove. In fact, former Past President BJ Romans came to volunteer and received her Paul Harris +3. Our club was unable to recognize her 
tremendous contribution in person, so vaccine recipients gave her outstanding applause for her volunteer work. Day 4, an extra dose was squeezed out and long-time patient Chris, (declared high risk) (pictured above) was able to get his shot even though he had not received his appointment from public health. Day 5 was the most exciting, as 100 new doses came during the clinic. The buzz was on Twitter. The pharmacy opened 120 shots for the following week and in 90 minutes they were completely booked.
tremendous contribution in person, so vaccine recipients gave her outstanding applause for her volunteer work. Day 4, an extra dose was squeezed out and long-time patient Chris, (declared high risk) (pictured above) was able to get his shot even though he had not received his appointment from public health. Day 5 was the most exciting, as 100 new doses came during the clinic. The buzz was on Twitter. The pharmacy opened 120 shots for the following week and in 90 minutes they were completely booked. This has been the most positive week of work since the pandemic was declared. People came happy and left happier. We heard stories of struggles, people with families affected by the ravages of the pandemic and we experienced community volunteerism that helped shorten the travel toward herd immunity. Honestly, this is the reason careers in healthcare are so rewarding. Mostly, this is the reason to fall in with a Rotary club of friends and hard-working, dedicated volunteers.
Past President Nancy Tkachuk (pictured right) has been volunteering at the McBain Centre Clinic since the beginning. Certainly, there are likely many others that are helping out, and hence Rotary Open Opportunities, and in this case, it was the ability for more to say, “Got the Shot”! #vaccineswork #loveRotary #volunteersrock