Volunteering

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All phases of clinic operations are dependent upon volunteers. In a smallpox event, it will take 250 volunteers per clinic each day for a 16 hour day for a total of 11 days to vaccinate the entire population within a safe therapeutic window of time. In instances where a different disease and/or a smaller segment of exposed individuals is identified, the necessary response would be less. Factors affecting this would be the nature of the infectious agent, the incubation period, whether the medication itself has serious potential side effects requiring education, screening, and informed consent, and the size of the affected population. The job positions in either case would still be very similar.

Volunteers and their immediate families will be vaccinated/offered antibiotics on the first day of clinic operation, but being a volunteer does not mean you have to be vaccinated or take medication. There are no plans to continue clinic operations beyond the 11 days. In the event of such a large-scale event, the governor will declare a state of emergency and schools and most businesses will be closed. Orientation and training would be provided beforehand along with nametag identification and security access clearance materials. Licensed health care professionals must bring a copy of their current licenses. Simple bulleted job action sheets will be given to each volunteer for quick reference. The Farmington Valley Health District needs to identify potential volunteers for these positions prior to an event in order to train them in the tasks they would be performing, as well as possibly utilizing them in training exercises and drills. All volunteers are strongly encouraged to register on TRAIN, the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health’s on-line education resource for public health emergency response, accessing a nationwide training system. Getting a learner account gives you free access to available materials and references as well as upcoming training specifically for clinic volunteers.

Volunteers are needed for all of the following positions:

Non-medical Volunteers (Click for application form):

• Volunteer Coordinator • Assistant Volunteer Coordinator • Facilities manager • Special populations liason • Communications • “Just in Time” trainers • Greeters • Information • Holding room attendant • ID checker • Hallway traffic flow monitor • Forms distributor • Supply • Data entry • Transportation assist for handicapped • Translators • Forms reviewers • Float staff • Vaccination area assistant • Forms collectors • Scheduling • Personnel • Parking • Security • Staff nourishment and break supplies • Child care • Outreach mobile unit for special populations • IT support • Custodial • Finance • Clinic set-up

Medical Volunteers (Click for application form):

This includes licensed professionals such as MD, APRN, PA, RN, veterinarians, dentists, EMT, pharmacists, and mental health professionals. Photo ID required. Bring copy of professional license. Vaccinators must have a current license.

Most positions also need a lead person.

• Clinic manager • Assistant clinic manager • Quality Control • Vaccine receipt and protocol • Physician evaluators • Medical screeners • Triage • Vaccine administrator • Vaccinator assistant • Patient education • Mental health • Crisis intervention • Exit interview • Scheduling • Licensure documentation • Vaccine reconstitution • Spill team • Medical supplies • Emergency medical response • Troubleshooters • “Just in Time” trainers • Outreach mobile unit for special populations • Contact tracing • Site checks • Break staff