(Undated) -- A Nebraska volunteer group is helping health departments with administering COVID-19 vaccines.
Megan Wade, coordinator of the Eastern Nebraska Medical Reserve Corps, tells WOWT 6 News that they are currently working with three area health departments. Sarpy/Cass, Douglas County and Three Rivers. “We help with anything and everything from first aid services, to shelter support, to now COVID activities.”
MRC volunteers help with contact tracing, logistics, and mask distribution. But now, as counties continue to vaccinate more people in Phase 1B, their work has been critical at the vaccine clinics.
Pam Denney is a retired nurse, who spent more than 50 years in the profession. Denney retired in 2018, but these days you’ll find Pam on the front lines of the pandemic response volunteering with the Eastern Nebraska MRC. “For the health departments, there’s no way they have the staff to administer all the vaccines."
Denney says the clinics are much different from her hectic days in the emergency room. ”It’s a nice pace where if people have questions and concerns, you can spend time with them as you give the injection and answer questions for them and make them feel more secure as they leave."
Wade says as time goes on, she is constantly encouraged by the number of dedicated people wanting to volunteer their time with the MRC. “The last 2 months we’ve received more than 140 applications. Our unit is looking at 185, it’s been amazing, an amazing response,” said Megan.
Wade says applications for the Eastern Nebraska Medical Reserve Corps come from people in every profession, every background and that they’re always looking for more volunteers.