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You might have heard stories or seen photos of UVA Health’s first COVID-19 vaccines. The first day, Dec. 15, was filled with hope, excitement, and relief for many. Behind the scenes, a large, logistical, cross-functional team had been planning for months to make sure the launch was successful and safe. After the ultra-cold freezers were secured, the vaccine shipments arrived, and invites went out to the most at-risk team members, success still relied on one thing: vaccinators. All the efforts would be futile if no one was there to push the plunger.

A call went out to solicit for volunteers to vaccinate, and the response was “dramatic,” said Justin Vesser, PharmD, Manager, Ambulatory Pharmacy Services, who had the honor of administering UVA Health’s first vaccine. The volunteers came “from tremendously diverse disciplines, spanning from the Medical Center to the Schools of Nursing and Medicine.”

As of Tuesday, Dec. 22, 313 pharmacists, nurses, and doctors have stepped up to administer vaccines. So far, 91 vaccinators have given 1,594 vaccines to team members with thousands more scheduled.

While there are some perks of volunteering – pay for those eligible and vaccine priority, for example – Vesser found that most team members wanted to simply help out.

“My experience in the clinic is that their motivation came from a desire to do something,” Vesser said. “To feel good about something. To feel like they are part of the solution.”

Tracey Hoke, MD, Chief of Quality and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, said she signed up to vaccinate because “this is the most important work that I have done in my entire career.

“I am so grateful to have the opportunity to deliver vaccines to our team members. This pandemic threatens all of us, and there is no better use of my time than to work in support of team member and patient safety.”

Ebony Hilton, MD, Associate Professor, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, has been on both sides of the syringe. She was the first to receive the vaccine at UVA Health. She also volunteered to administer the vaccine to others.

“Being the first person to receive the vaccine was truly an honor but was bittersweet,” she said. “My thoughts were mixed with feeling as if a weight was lifted and at the same time thinking of the 300,000 Americans who would never have this chance. It’s one of the reasons why I wanted to volunteer as a vaccinator – to do my part of giving hope to someone else and even playing a small role in protecting their life.”

Joining the vaccination team is hard yet rewarding work. Vaccinating against the coronavirus is something that has never been done before, and those who are administering the vaccines are creating a brand new front line of caretakers.

“Even at 7 p.m., as we wrap up,” said Vesser, “when everyone is exhausted, the general look on everyone's face is actually disappointment that it's over. Everyone was energized and uplifted by the experience of serving in the clinic, and they have been powerful recruiters of their friends and colleagues.”

Ready to Volunteer?

As more vaccines become available and more team members are invited to get the COVID-19 vaccine, more volunteers will be needed. Sign up to volunteer here.

“We'll be vaccinating more than 3,000 people per week,” Vesser said, “and we need the same enthusiasm and skill for the weeks to come that we've been overwhelmed with this past week.”

From her experience on the front lines of both patient care and vaccine distribution, Hilton has advice for anyone getting or giving the shot: “I would hope every team member knows that the person on either side of the needle is a person who has experienced incredible things this year. Take time to listen to them, ask how are they feeling about the process, and what it means to them. In the end, it’s more than just a shot; it’s a chance towards a new beginning.”

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered so far and will volunteer in the coming weeks and months. You are appreciated!

Top photo: Charles Okine, PharmD, prepares a COVID-19 vaccine for Mesha Jones, RN.