Covid Mass Vaccination Clinic Volunteer Effort
In February 2021 the Rotary Club of Eugene (Club) negotiated an agreement with the Lane County Department of Health and Human Services to recruit and vet volunteers for the mass vaccination clinics that were being planned to fight the spread of COVID within our community. Club member Karen Gaffney was the Director of the Department at that time. Karen worked with the Club to establish the requirements for volunteers: Each volunteer was required to complete HIPAA training, sign an agreement with Lane County, and complete a background check with the Oregon State Police. The Club updated Lane County weekly with the names of all vetted volunteers and Lane County would email them a weekly schedule so they could sign up for shifts at mass vaccination clinics at Lane Community College, the Lane County Fair Grounds and Autzen Stadium.
The Club began providing volunteers to the three clinic locations on Sunday February 21, 2021. In addition to Club members, we recruited volunteers from the other nine local clubs. The local clubs responded, adding several of their members to the volunteer ranks. Duties performed by Rotary volunteers included initial check-in and registration. The Club provided an average of 42 volunteers per weekend from our list of over 150 vetted volunteers, ultimately staffing over 500 shifts and providing more than 4,000 man-hours of service to thousands and thousands of vaccination recipients.
Volunteers wore Rotary safety vests, blue Rotary masks, and members wore “Rotary Hero” hats which were provided by Rotary District 5110 Governor Cindi O’Neil. We had several requests for more information about Rotary, and numerous times a shift our volunteers were thanked for our service by those receiving their vaccine. We also received donations in gratitude for our service.
This volunteer experience was incredibly rewarding as well as incredibly important to the health of our community. We received recognition from our community and local media. Our members are grateful for the opportunity to have been of service to our neighbors. This is what Rotary was founded to do and what the Rotary Club of Eugene has been doing for over 100 years: Serving our Community in myriad ways.