As the pace of vaccination accelerates in various cities of Lithuania and as mass vaccination approaches, vaccination centers and polyclinics are starting to lack volunteers. The Lithuanian Red Cross, which coordinates the volunteer forces of NGOs in the vaccination process (in some cities volunteers from "Lietuvos Carito" and Maltese Red Cross also help), notes that mass vaccination will require almost twice as many volunteers as are currently available. Therefore, the Lithuanian Red Cross, together with city municipalities, calls on concerned residents to come to the aid of their cities.
"Volunteers are already lacking throughout Lithuania, regardless of the size of the city. Although we have accumulated a considerable reserve of volunteers over the past months, not all of them can help during working hours, when their hands are most needed," said Kristina Meidė, head of the Lithuanian Red Cross. According to her, the opening of businesses and other areas of activity and the approaching summer also "take away" some of the volunteers from the vaccination centers. The hospital, where the number of covid-19 patients has recently increased, is also asking for volunteers.
"People are returning to work, others want to enjoy the open bars, exploding gardens, and everyone wants to take a breather from the long quarantine. And this is natural, human and understandable. But it is also important that this summer, in addition to taking a break from the long closure, we also do the necessary work - so that we don't have to close again next winter. And only the successful vaccination of the population will allow them to breathe easier next winter. Therefore, we would strongly invite all interested people of Lithuania, who are busy enough, to find a few hours a week for volunteering and help their cities in the vaccination process", said K. Meidė.
"The vaccination process that has taken place in the country's municipalities so far would not have been so effective without the help of volunteers. By donating their time in various cities and towns of Lithuania, volunteers help residents get to the vaccination site, regulate traffic, ensure safety as much as possible and do many other often invisible jobs that help us all move towards controlling the virus and leading a better life. We highly appreciate the work of these volunteers and invite others to follow their example", invited Mindaugas Sinkevičius, president of the Association of Lithuanian Municipalities.
He said the contribution of volunteers will be even more necessary with the imminent mass vaccination of the population.
Currently, more than 600 volunteers of the Lithuanian Red Cross are already working in vaccination centers throughout Lithuania. Meanwhile, it is planned that the need for volunteers will increase to 1000 volunteers during mass vaccination. The largest number of Lithuanian Red Cross volunteers work in the city of Kaunas (about 220 volunteers), Vilnius (about 170 volunteers) and Klaipėda (about 50 volunteers). However, even in those cities where the volunteer force is somewhat smaller (for example, Šiauliai - 34 volunteers, Alytus - 46, Visaginas - 29), they make a huge difference to the vaccination process.
"People who come to be vaccinated often have fears, it is not easy for them to orient themselves, where and what documents to fill out, which vaccination office to go to and what to do afterwards. Volunteers who meet visitors to the vaccination center or clinic help them deal with this process, and often with anxiety and fear. The work of volunteers is extremely important, and not only we, but also the people who came to get vaccinated, are constantly grateful to them," said K. Meidė.
The head of the Lithuanian Red Cross invites you not to wait for "mass vaccination" and to register as volunteers now. "Although currently the vaccination process is not yet called "mass vaccination", it is already such in scope," said the head of the Lithuanian Red Cross.
Those wishing to become volunteers at vaccination centers and polyclinics do not need to have a medical education, and there are no major age restrictions (volunteers from the age of 16 are invited). Those who can volunteer at least a few hours a week during the day - possibly working part-time (or in shifts), those who work individually or in areas where they can regulate their own working hours - are especially welcome. Senior schoolchildren and students are also welcome. All future volunteers will undergo Lithuanian Red Cross training, and their safety measures will be taken care of during work at vaccination centers.
