Officials are expecting an increase in COVID-19 vaccine doses and need more volunteers to administer those doses. Virginia Beach EMS Deputy Chief Tom Green said the state has put them on notice that more doses will become available.
The Virginia Beach Department of Health is currently working to get local residents vaccinated four to six days a week.
VBEMS Deputy Chief Tom Green says the city is averaging 5,000 shots in arms per day in the resort city, and is preparing for that to increase as supply increases. “If we move up to [10,000] to 12,000 vaccinations per week, that’s pretty significant,” said Green. “It takes a lot of manpower to do that, a lot of people involved.”
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The Virginia Beach Convention Center is being used as a vaccine site for the COVID-19 vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines are distributed in phases and are provided by appointment only.
Walk-ins will not be accommodated. Please refer to the Virginia Department of Health website for more information. https://vaccinate.virginia.gov/index.html
At the convention center, 80% of workers are volunteers, and they're working five days a week..
"Volunteers that have been here for two months are starting to wear out a little bit," Green said.
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To volunteer, visit www.VBEMS.com/VolunteerVaccinator and select “Create Account."
You will need to provide your credentials/certifications for verification and complete a brief EMS orientation over the phone, and online training courses that should only take between two and three hours.
You will also have to consent to a background check performed by the Virginia Beach EMS.
Right now, the clinic is receiving about 5,000 shots per week from the state.
"We'd like to do more vaccine but that's going to require more people, so we're seeking volunteers to help fill in the goals now," Green said.
"Physicians, physician's assistants, nurses - either nurse practitioner or LPNs - paramedics, EMT advance and EMT intermediates, as well."
The City of Virginia Beach continues to monitor and adjust to changing conditions related to the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19.
There are national, state and local declarations of emergency in place and they are following the guidance from the Virginia Department of Health as well the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).
Virginia Beach is 31% African American which is 525,663 African American individuals.
