Adrianna Marin is a student nurse who has been volunteering to administer covid vaccinations in MCCC’s gym over the last few weeks.
She was one of the eight people administering shots at the most recent clinic, on March 12. Together they tipped up a little glass vial, inserted a syringe, pulled back the plunger, and gave over 1000 shots.
“I like giving [the shots]. The day goes by fast and a lot of people feel grateful,” Marin says, adding, “I was afraid at first but afterwards I was comfortable with it and it was fine.”
MCCC started administering vaccinations during a single weekend clinic in January, but now it’s one of the biggest hubs in the county, putting over 1,000 shots in arms each day, one to two days per week.
Prof. Elizabeth Mizerk, head of Nursing Education and chief organizer for the clinic says it is now being “run by the Mercer County Division of Public Health. They are the sponsoring agency. We at Mercer are assisting them by providing them with a physical location as well as assisting them in terms of staffing.”
According to Professor Mizerek, the clinic is open one to two days a week because the gym has other activities scheduled that they have to work around.
She says that by May 8 “we’ll have given 20,000 vaccinations to fully vaccinate 10,000 people.”
People schedule their shots by signing up through the New Jersey Vaccine Scheduling System and then being notified by email that they are able to make an appointment at MCCC among one of a growing number of sites in the state. Once appointment registration is complete they receive a barcode.
Professor Mizerek says, “Sometimes technology isn’t our friend so we have to scan their barcode to bring them in. That’s why sometimes we have a little bit of a holdup. Once that starts working properly you’ll see that work.”
One of these technology holdups was experienced by William Solarski, an 86 year old resident of Hamilton Township who got his shot at the March 12 clinic.
Solarski was originally at Station 1 to get a shot, but after technical difficulties with the computer not connecting, was moved to Station 2.
Solarski who first registered in the New Jersey system back in January said he started waiting in line at 7:45 A.M. to receive his shot, finally getting inside at 9 A.M..
When asked how it went he said, “Except for the long wait [it was] alright. I got no problem taking the shot or anything.”
Asked if he was excited to get his next shot Mr. Solarski said, “I guess so, as long as it gets here! Can’t wait to get everything done!”
Professor of Photography Michael Chovan-Dalton, who is currently teaching his classes on campus, has volunteered at the clinic.
He says, “When the opportunity arose at the college where they sent out an email that they needed volunteers, I thought ‘let me get to know what’s going on first hand, and let me try to be a part of something that helps instead of just sitting around and complaining.’”
He added, “I really enjoyed volunteering to do this, which is why I’m doing it again because I did feel like I was really helping…It was gratifying to see the range of emotion and the gratitude of people that you’re helping get their vaccines.”
After spending a full day on his feet Professor Chovan-Dalton says he was able to get a leftover dose because if you are a volunteer, you fall under the category of ‘volunteer at a medical facility,’ which gives you eligibility.
He said that he would definitely get a shot when he was asked, and told the coordinators “‘Just make sure whoever’s on the list who is higher risk gets it, and if there’s anything left I’ll gladly take it.’”
Deputy Marvin Deleon from the Mercer County Sheriff’s office was at the clinic and said, “For the most part for the couple weeks we’ve been here everything’s been fine.”
He says people have turned in lost property from time to time. For example, some keys were left in a bathroom and a license plate was found in the parking lot.
Samira Sadqi, a Nursing student in her third semester who was working at the clinic told The VOICE, “I just want to contribute to what’s happening here. It is a great thing and I want to contribute as much as I can.”
