Volunteers are urgently needed to help out at the Allegheny County Health Department vaccination clinics from March 17 to 26 at the Petersen Events Center.

The health department started holding first-dose vaccination clinics March 17 at the Pete and will continue from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 18 and March 22 to 26.

Allegheny County said the clinic is only for people 65 and older only. Appointments are required, and no walk-ins are allowed. The county said the goal is to give out around 1,000 shots a day. Second dose appointments will happen at the same location in the 28-to-42-day window recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Volunteers from Pitt are needed to serve in numerous roles during this mass vaccination effort, both clinical and non-clinical. To volunteer, complete the steps below in the order listed. If volunteers have already completed Step 1, they may just fill out their availability below in Step 2.

Step 1: If you have not previously registered, please complete the Volunteer Enrollment Survey. You will only need to complete the Volunteer Enrollment Survey one time.  All information will be kept on file for future vaccination efforts.

Step 2: Volunteers will need to provide their availability for any of the seven clinics by completing the following surveys for the days they are available: March 18, March 22, March 23, March 24, March 25, and March 26. 

Volunteers will be assigned on a first response, first placement basis. Volunteers for March 22 and 23 will receive confirmation of their placement by noon March 19. Volunteers for March 24 to 26 will receive confirmation of their placement by 5 p.m. March 22.

It appears all the volunteer slots have been filled for March 24, which is a day off for most staff at Pitt — the Staff Self-Care Holiday.

Under the Pitt Pandemic Service Initiative, staff are allowed to take up to eight hours of their work week for volunteer activities, with the approval of their supervisor.