SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – The county is in desperate need of volunteers to administer the vaccine. If you have a background in healthcare like doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, you may be able to help.
The county vaccination super station opened at Petco Park this week. Right now, the site is vaccinating about 4,000 people per day. They’re hoping to get that number up to 5,000 by the end of the week.
With many health professionals already working overtime at hospitals, the county says there are not enough people to administer vaccines.
“We all have unique challenges,” said Dr. Jennifer Tuteur with the County Health Department. “For us, the county is the size of the state of Connecticut.”
Volunteers with healthcare backgrounds are being recruited to join the San Diego County Medical Reserve Crops. Applicants must be license in California and either actively working or recently retired.
“We also have an expanded scope of practice for dentists to give vaccinations, paramedics, pharmacy technicians and so forth,” said Dr. Tuteur. “Our workforce is doing a tremendous job taking care of our sickest but we want to get these vaccines into arms.”
If you’re approved the county will provide special training.
“We do all of the license verification, background, we ensure that anyone who is providing vaccinations is absolutely qualified,” said Dr. Tuteur.
The county is also allowing nursing and medical students to apply under the supervision of a nurse or doctor.
If you want to apply to be a volunteer, click here.