U of M Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) members have the opportunity to be of service during this critical moment in history by supporting COVID vaccination efforts on campus and throughout the metro area.
As the COVID vaccine becomes more readily available, the need for additional COVID-19 Vaccination Team members has become more apparent.
The MRC's COVID-19 Vaccination Team is currently deployed to support:
- Boynton Health at COVID-19 vaccination clinics on the Twin Cities campus and potentially the system campuses
- Off-campus vaccination clinics based at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in the Mpls./St. Paul metro area
You must be a member of the MRC's COVID-19 Vaccination Team to be eligible to volunteer at the COVID vaccination clinics on campus or at one of the FQHC's.
I invite you to read the information below to learn more about the opportunities to assist with COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
News
COVID Vaccination Team Membership
We are continually re-evaluating membership needs for the COVID-19 Vaccination Team as priority groups are added and the vaccine becomes more readily available. Currently, we are in need of vaccine injectors to serve at campus and FQHC clinics, and support staff to serve at FQHC clinics.
To express interest in joining this team, please follow these steps:
1. Visit the COVID-19 Vaccination Team webpage to learn more about the team roles and associated license and training requirements
2. Fill out this interest form: COVID-19 Vaccination Team
3. Monitor your UMN email address for next steps in the coming days and weeks
You must be a member of the MRC's COVID-19 Vaccination Team to be eligible to volunteer at the COVID vaccination clinics on campus or at one of the FQHC's.
Jennifer Chen, Pharm D, Director of the Pharmaceutical Care Learning Center, College of Pharmacy, and Team Lead for the MRC's Pharmaceutical Response Strike Team administering vaccine at a campus COVID vaccination clinic on March 3, 2021.
Federally Qualified Health Centers: COVID Vaccination Support
In alignment with the state's commitment to provide COVID vaccinations to underserved communities, the Medical Reserve Corps has developed vaccination teams to support metro area Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) COVID vaccination clinics.
The FQHC's are expanding their capacity to provide COVID vaccinations to their clients. Several of the clinics have reached out to the U of M MRC in the past week with additional requests for staffing support.
110 MRC members have signed up to join one of seven FQHC vaccination teams. We are hoping to grow these teams by at least 75 members to fully meet the needs of the Health Centers.
Currently, we are filling approximately 50% of the shifts requested by the FQHC's. Please consider joining one of the FQHC Vaccination Teams if you have not already done so.
Campus COVID Vaccination Clinic Support
Boynton Health has requested the assistance of the MRC COVID Vaccination Team to staff campus COVID vaccination clinics. It is anticipated that the campus vaccination clinics will be held throughout the next several months.
With vaccine supply being somewhat unpredictable, we often stand up vaccination clinics on short notice. We encourage MRC members to check their University of Minnesota emails often for messages from the Medical Reserve Corps.
You must be a member of the COVID-19 Vaccination Team to volunteer at a campus COVID vaccination clinic.
MRC Member Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I do not have a MRC t-shirt. How do I go about getting one?
A. For the time being, we are handing out MRC t-shirts at the Boynton Vaccination Clinics. When the weather warms up we will schedule a MRC t-shirt distribution event on campus.
Q. When I go to Shiftboard to sign up for a shift I often times do not see a shift available?
A. You will not see a MRC deployment opportunity on Shiftboard if all of the slots for that deployment have been filled. The shifts fill up quickly, which is a testament to COVID Vaccination Team member enthusiasm for contributing to the vaccination efforts. We encourage MRC members to check their University of Minnesota emails on a regular basis.
Q. What can I do if I cannot access Shiftboard from my computer?
A. First, try changing the browser you are using to access Shiftboard. If that does not work, we recommend downloading the Shiftboard app on your phone.
COVID Vaccination Team Member Spotlight
Sarah Hoffman, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN, SANE-A, is an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and a SANE nurse with the Regions Hospital SANE Program
"With so much focus on the shortcomings of the vaccine roll out, supporting a well-organized and highly skilled health care team working effectively to meet the Covid vaccine needs of the community it serves has been reassuring and very fulfilling."