Opinion | Use your immunity for good: volunteer at a vaccine site

Braden Joe, film production and anthropology double major

Over the last month and a half, I’ve had the honor and pleasure of volunteering at a local Orange County COVID-19 vaccine site. Exhausted by the pandemic news and overwhelmed by my anxiety, I decided to try and help. I’m a total germaphobe and not the biggest fan of needles, but I realized that helping with the vaccination process was the best way for me to help. After hearing about this opportunity, filling out an online application and waiting during a few weeks of silence, I was offered a spot as a volunteer.

My first day was incredibly eye-opening. At the time, the only eligible patients were those over 65, working within specific occupations or living with high-risk medical conditions. Our clinic serves roughly 400 patients per day. The volunteer work is split between medical and non-clinical.

I am responsible for helping coordinate the arrival of patients: checking them in, helping with paperwork questions, setting up the waiting line, screening for COVID-19 symptoms, controlling flow for social distancing and helping triage problems. Over the last few weeks, I’ve interacted with over 2,000 individuals — more social contact than I’ve had in the entire year. As a volunteer, I was eligible to receive my first dose when I began work in early March. I work an eight-hour shift every Saturday, and I have made some great friends at the clinic.

Sadly, I’ve noticed two troubling patterns: a decline in volunteers over the last month and a familiar, yet unsettling, attitude. Quite a few of the volunteers have not returned to the clinic after they received their first dose and scheduled an appointment for their second. 

Those who have done this are technically following the guidelines. They need only work for one shift to qualify. However, the demand for their help has never been higher. While the work is manageable, it is definitely not without its challenges. Triaging situations — like assisting with literacy boundaries, scheduling woes and anxious patients — has increased my awareness toward language barriers, disabilities and kinship relationships. Sadly, I’ve also overheard proclamations of conspiracy theories, rants of anti-maskers and grand displays of entitlement from people waiting in line. For the first time in a year, I’ve been able to see America in person again. 

Some things have changed, some haven’t.

We have now entered the most widely accessible phase of vaccine eligibility. With this comes the opportunity for more of us to become immunized and participate in more unrestricted activities. As more of us get vaccinated in the coming weeks, I strongly ask you to remember that while vaccination is a great step toward “normalcy,” a return to “normalcy” without heeding the lessons of the last year will result in the continuity of a sickness that will last far longer than COVID-19. The disease of ignorance, injustice and a lack of empathy has plagued our society for generations. 

The pandemic is not over yet. Getting your shot is a great personal step, but if 2020 has taught me anything, it's that the old “normal” hides a lot of privilege, stratification and injustice. Use the safety and freedom that comes from vaccination to do more than just travel and go out to eat. Take this privilege and do something good; if not volunteering at a vaccine clinic, then maybe a food bank, shelter or activism event. Never before have we been so aware of the problems surrounding us. 

As we emerge from our homes, let’s follow the words we’ve said and the posts we’ve read. The road to justice is walked by those most willing to listen, reflect on themselves and have courage and patience to help those around them grow. As soon as you become vaccinated, please consider donating your time to the countless organizations that could use your help. Respect the safety precautions of those around you. 

Remember the lessons we’ve learned this year. Failure to grow from these would be a greater loss than our inability to contain the virus last spring.

This piece is solely representative of the guest columnist’s thoughts and opinions and does not reflect the opinions of their employer or volunteer organization.