ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. — While a COVID-19 vaccine is still pending approval in the U.S., West Michigan counties are preparing for distribution.
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Allegan County just recently put out a call for volunteers to help with that process once the the vaccine becomes available.
Allegan County is asking for both clinical and non-clinical volunteers to eventually help with vaccine distribution as they continue to prepare for its approval.
"We truly believe that we will be ready to distribute that vaccine when that time comes, we just wanted to take care of the effort to be prepared for that," said Allegan County Emergency Operations Center's PIO Dan Wedge.
While the country is still waiting for FDA approval of a COVID-19 vaccine, the Allegan County Emergency Operations Center is taking steps to put together its distribution plan.
"There has been a Vaccine Task Force in place that has been looking at not only volunteers but locations around the whole throughput of what that might look like looking at different locations," said Wedge.
While a variety of different locations options are being explored, Wedge said they figured they would get a head start on finding volunteers who could administer the vaccine and others to help streamline the process.
"That would include paramedics, emergency medical technicians, medical first responders and registered nurses. We also need non-clinical volunteers who would be able to assist with inventory, possibly transportation, working with any security needs, screening, language needs or other items like that," said Wedge.
Volunteers will be given background checks to ensure the safety of those receiving the vaccine as well as those distributing it.
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The county said anyone who is willing to contribute, even just a little bit of time, is appreciated.
"Being that this will be a multiple, ongoing distribution over several months, we believe it is important to have a variety of volunteers available to us," said Wedge.
If you're interested in helping out with the vaccine distribution in Allegan County, click here for the volunteer sign-up form.
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