Volunteering as a Vaccination Steward

[KihoBebiluPute]

Apologies if there is already a thread for this, I looked but didn't find one.

I have volunteered to be a vaccination steward via GoodSamApp (this is a system that existed pre-covid for medical people to be alerted if there was a crisis nearby, that has been adapted for this use.

The application process really simple. Just a few very basic details and proof of identity required. A few days later for them to do their admin and very little hassle on my part, and I am registered to be called upon when needed.

I have no idea whether they have enough volunteers yet but thought I would share how quick and easy it was. I am glad to have done something positive towards helping. You can volunteer too in just a few moments by clicking the link above. Time commitment is a minimum of 2x6 hr shifts per month but obviously you can do more if you want.

Ii would also like to use this thread to make contact with others who are registered in the same way so we can share experiences of how it works when we are called upon. So far, having been through this nice easy application process, I have the app on my phone and am just waiting for call to action. No idea really what comes next so if you have also registered please post here and we can keep each other informed once stuff starts happening.

Morning, I have too. My centre is opening 23rd Jan but we can't sign up for shifts yet

Well done for helping.

I saw two stewards standing in the freezing rain yesterday directing cars at our hospital. Big love to all doing work like this! 👏🏻

I have signed up too, it was heartening to see that I live in a small village but lots of volunteers here. No idea when I'll be offered a shift.

I signed DS and I up to do this a few days ago but haven't heard anything since, does that sound normal?

Like I didn't get any acknowledgment in the form of an email etc

@frustrationcentral on the day I registered I had 2 emails from [email protected] one to verify my email address and one to confirm my application was awaiting admin. If you haven't had anything, maybe check your spam folder?

Thanks @KihoBebiluPute , thinking about it I didn't use that app, I did it on the NHS website so maybe they have a different system

I'll go and check my junk folder just in case though!

well done to all. I have volunteered via the St Johns's Ambulance - not as a steward as such but as a 'vaccination care volunteer' - not entirely clear what that is but I think is more on the helping indoors front rather than marshalling. Anyway that method is quite convoluted. I now have a 35 minutes 'video interview' on monday.
Pleased that it looks like the stewarding route looks more straightforward.

I’ve also signed up through the GoodSam app, haven’t heard anything yet, but it was only 2 days ago.

I’ve signed up via the app but also with the local commissioning group. I googled for volunteering in my local area. Nothing on the app yet but signed up to Marshall this weekend through the commissioning group. The emails asking for volunteers are coming thick and fast so not sure what the disconnect is between the two. Looking forward to it!

I've also volunteered through St John Ambulance but as a vaccine volunteer- administering the vaccines. I had a video interview last week and then have had quite a lot of online training- some of which is pretty technical and scientific about the way vaccines work and in particular the Pfizer and Oxford ones, storage, administration etc. I had a whole day of face to face training next week and then can start shifts. There were other roles available too which are a bit less technical but equally necessary.

@LilaGrace

Have you heard anything about shifts?
I had a phone call about doing a shift this Thursday at Excel but haven’t received anything further.

Did my induction today and start next week. Thankfully, you are only required to do 1 hour in the car park as it is freezing (wind tunnel!).

@BioTeacher2020 my face to face training is on Sunday. But hoping to get started straight away once that is done. How did you find the face to face training?
@Parky04 what was your experience of the training? Are you also in London?
I'm in north London so the new Wembley centre might be the closest centre for me.

@LilaGrace

The face to face was fine. You have to wear a mask all day but we’ll have to do that on shift anyway. You don’t need to know quite as much as implied in the NHS online modules.

I registered last week and am just waiting to hear back

I've volunteered too. I got an email to say I had to check the tasks tab on the app, to watch for any stewarding opportunities... butnthere is no tasks tab.

Can anyone advise who's got that far?

Thanks for this thread op, I'd love to volunteer as a steward if they'd have me (not a medic, but could help with other roles hopefully).

Does anyone know if it is the same system in Scotland?

I signed up with the good Sam app to be a "responder" at the beginning of the first lockdown, but wasn't needed, and a few months later was told that Scotland was not covered by the scheme.

So I don't know if the steward volunteering in Scotland is a different system? I have had a look online but still cant find a clear answer!

I think I'll just try to sign up with the GoodSam app again, and see what it says when I put my location details in!

I haven’t had any notifications yet. The tasks tab for the pp that asked is along the bottom of the home page of the app

@TheSpottedZebra the tasks tab should be along the bottom of the screen when you are in the goodsam app. Stewarding tasks are posted there (the ones within whatever distance you have set) and you can opt to attend from there.

Thanks, TimeForLunch How odd, I really dont see that. I checked and there were no updates to the app, but I think I'll uninstall and reinstall.

I've signed up to volunteer but at the moment the local centre is only open mon-fri in the day when I'm either working or with DC on my own. I'm assuming I can be more useful when the hrs of operation are extended.

Regarding my last post, when I went to sign up it seems that the NHS volunteer responder Stewards are in England only (just in case anyone else had the same question as me!)

I did a shift yesterday at my local vaccinator centre - im a vaccinator through St John Ambulance but I saw lots of people in steward tabards directing people around . Some outside but most inside. My understanding is that there have been quite a lot of volunteers (which is amazing!) And the vaccination centres aren't running at full capacity yet. (Ours has shorted hours last week and has another floor still to open) I think once they are and more centres open there will be more call for stewards and the like

I have offered my services via an add on Facebook North east England - eventually got application form etc via email and have just completed online modules - waiting to hear back - I too can only do evening and weekend as work full time