Volunteers needed for vaccine distribution

The Medical Reserve Corps is recruiting volunteers to help the Broward County Department of Health distribute COVID-19 vaccinations to residents.

They are looking for active or retired health care professionals, individuals trained in National Incident Management System and others.

Volunteer opportunities range from emergency response to non-medical administration.

Led by the unit leader, Dr. Warren Sturman,

the civilian-volunteer program’s goal is to cut down the vaccination lines as much as possible.

“Our volunteers can get there and help speed the lines up,” he said. “You’re going to be doing a great service to the people, knowing that don’t have to sit in the line that long. The more efficient we are, the more people we can vaccinate. We are cutting the line down and increasing capacity. It’s a fantastic way to help the community by volunteering.

“We divide the volunteers into two groups,” Sturman said. “The medical ones, particularly the physicians, will be in the post-vaccination observation area, observing the people that are in the area and assisting them... The others will be on-site helping direct the flow of the cars and just help the line move faster.”

Helping build the public health infrastructure of communities around the county, the Medical Reserve Corps is trained to address a wide range of challenges from public health education to disaster response.

Individuals interested in volunteering must complete an application at browardmru.com/registernow.

Visit browardmru.com.

AMY BETH BENNETT/SUN SENTINEL Christine Philips, a nurse with the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, gives Vera Leip, 88, her first dose of a vaccine against COVID-19 during a news conference Dec. 16 at John Knox Village of Pompano Beach.