Anxiety over COVID volunteering

I don’t know where you are kwest, but there is a big shortage of volunteers around my area, because they are opening more vaccination centres all the time to make them more accessible? If there is one environment where everybody working there will be completely aware of the COVID risks it will be vaccination centres, so there’s no way they will be putting volunteers at risk.

I am 71 and I am volunteering at a Vaccine Centre. Masks, gloves and hand sanitiser are supplied and we do different things each time we volunteer. We might be managing the queues outside or directing people to the waiting room and ensuring they stay for 15 minutes after the vaccination. It has given me a new lease of life as I was very bored with the lockdown and have begun to feel useful again. However, I do not have anyone vulnerable at home to worry about but I can understand how your husband feels, I think he just wants to feel like he is helping. I feel that I could pick the virus up anywhere, in the supermarket, in the newsagents. I don't think there is any bigger risk at the Vaccination Centre.

Joy o40252 - Being careful means not exposing yourself to potential sources of the virus. I would ask your husband in what way does his idea of volunteering conform to that definition. And I would also shake him a little into not volunteering by reminding him that there are many younger people who would like the opportunity to do that. Personally the idea that a 70 year old with 2 mins vaccination training might give me a jab absolutely ludicrous, and if he thinks he might be standing as a marshal with a high vis jacket on he's in a prime position to catch corona. I'm in my 70s and I've had it. He's being selfish, he doesn't need to volunteer.

Having escorted my elderly mother to a vaccination hub this week, I have to point out that it was extremely well organised: not crowded, systems in place and plenty of distance between everyone.

Rowsie - as you are volunteering, can you tell me if they are sanitizing chairs etc between clients in the area where people are sitting? Likewise the area where the vaccination is given?
My mother-in-law will be having hers this week but the online videos of these mass-vaccination sites don't show any between-client cleaning.

GoldenAge
I'm curious- why would a marshal with a high vis jacket be in a prime position to catch corona? I'm not being argumentative, just interested in why you think that would be so.

Are you really considering gambling with your life after 10 months keeping safe? It's admirable that your husband wants to volunteer but he's putting his life and your life at risk. All the heartache of 2020 will be for nothing if one or both of you are unlucky and die.

I am 76 and am being allowed back a volunteer at our local Hospice. They have an assessment and you have to score under 5 to be allowed to do it. It is to do with general health, medication, weight, etc. Because of this I have had my first does of the vaccine (I have had my letter from the NHS anyway so not volunteering as a way of getting the vaccine early!) When I was vaccinated all the marshals were wearing PPE and everyone was socially distanced. I can't wait to go back as almost he hardest part of this lockdown has been feeling so useless and I'm certain that your husband will find helping will lift his spirits and as long as he abides by the rules he should be fine.

I have been working in a mass vaccination centre since 28/12/20, nearly all our volunteers are over 70 and all working safely, and no one in our centre has tested positive, feels very safe and of course he would be himself having the vaccination at the centre straight away. On his return home he should shower and change his clothes before sitting for his well earned cuppa .

I'm over 70, but would love to volunteer and feel as though I'm helping. However I don't think it's a very sensible idea! My daughter has been volunteering and has been both inside and outside at the vax hub, but last weekend she was offered the vaccination (she's 44) so I think they are obviously doing their best to ensure the safety of the volunteers. As over 70's are so close to a vaccination, it seems silly to risk anything now. I know how difficult it can be to make these fellas see sense sometimes - they just don't think it through!

This is a very difficult question and everyone will have their own views and circumstances. My heart is telling me to volunteer but my head says no. We do need to remember however that there’s no right and wrong here. We may be older people but of course younger people have jobs and families to care for and very little time to offer. Most people who do voluntary work are retired as they have the time to offer. I know that none of my AC or their partners have a minute to spare in each day.

I think like others have said, not a big problem if he’s marshalling cars but I wouldn’t be happy about anything inside xx

Mumben is everything being wiped down between clients"?

My husband (72) and I (68) have both volunteered to do a few shifts each week at our local vaccination centre - as marshalls. We won't be given any priority in getting the vaccine, and wouldn't expect it, but feel it's the least we can do to help bring an end to this pandemic. We'll probably be car park attendants, but I don't mind. It will just be good to be able to do something useful, however minor. I'm sure we will be provided with PPE and that social distancing will be enforced.

I wouldn't worry, not all volunteers are accepted, as I have found

Please Joy try to persuade him not to volunteer until you’ve both been vaccinated. He must put you first. I got Covid and was hospitalised because my husband did something unselfish to help someone else and he picked up the virus and passed it to me. He wasn’t very ill, but I was and am still recovering.

Had my jab yesterday, felt extremely safe, chairs wiped down, sanitiser used by masked volunteers and very well organised.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Firstly I think we should all be thanking your husband for volunteering.
There are several jobs at our vaccination centre that are out in the open air, so I would hold fire before complaining that he is putting himself and you at risk. What is required depends very much on your centre but examples from ours I can give are :-
1) We have a section of our station car park allocated just vaccination parking so marshals are required to highlight the way to the correct bays in a very large car park.
2) We have a small car park at the back of our vaccination centre for wheelchair users, that needs policing to ensure that only non- mobile people attempt to use it.
3) There is a small service road in front our vaccination centre that needs policing so cars do not block the road.
4) We have someone outside of the 1st door checking people have had an appointment and haven't just turned up and explaining the process to them and how long they are likely to be.

None of these jobs are particularly risky as far as government guidance is concerned and risk assessments have been done by GPs. These roles have on the whole been taken by those people who have expressed a wish to help but to have very reduced contact.
Your husband can always change his mind when he finds out what is involved so I would wait and see.

Your husband will doubtless be in the carpark marshalling cars. Younger fitter people may well be inside.

I took my very aged father for his vaccination last week in Kent, fabulous organisation, good volunteer system going on in T Wells, and IF the virus is going to get anyone in an outdoor breezy or windy car park through a mask AND socially distanced, then I suspect that we are all doomed!

Suggest he dresses up very warm!

I am 66 (yesterday) . I have been unfurloughed from my job and been sent to marshal at our local sport centre which is being used as a vaccination hub . We vaccinate about 500 people a day. I am inside directing people where to go, managing the queues which have sometimes been quite long and sanitising all the chairs before people move along them. I also chat to and reassure any that are nervous or anxious. I have a high viz jacket and a mask. I absolutely love it. It is totally exhausting and back breaking with all the bending over chairs. I try to stay socially distanced but some of our visitors are fairly immobile and need physical help. However. I am deeply concerned that none of us are automatically being vaccinated. If there is any vaccine left over at the end of the day, the medics will allow us to have it. Most of my colleagues have had their first dose. Unfortunately, I am on the morning shift (8.00am to 2.00pm). I was really upset to hear that last night 2 doses were thrown away as nobody needed them. My boss has said i could marshal at the mass testing centre, but that is in a car park and i do not fancy standing in the freezing cold and pouring rain for 6 hours. Also. Most of our patients are over 80 and haven't been out for months. They are probably more at risk from me than the other way round. That will change as we move down the age groups.

What a lovely thing for him to do when so much help is needed. I'm sure that these centres are taking all aspects into consideration and as a few have posted he may well he masked up, outside marshaling cars. It will be good for his mental health and I'm sure they will ask about anyone he lives with and take that into consideration.

Ask him to wait till you've had your jabs. He wasn't thinking when he volunteered.

Surely anyone in one of the vulnerable groups won't be accepted for volunteering whether inside or out. We have all been told to stay at home other than for essential needs.

I agree with oppsadaisy .Your health should come first ♡