The Kingfisher County Health Department is seeking qualified nurse volunteers to help administer COVID-19 vaccines at an event to be scheduled.

Maggie Jackson, health department community engagement and planning director for Canadian, Blaine, Kingfisher, Garfield, Grant, Logan and Major counties, said interested nurses can sign up with the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps by clicking the “Join Now” button on the website at okmrc.org.

“They’ll go through an online vetting and application process and then be notified via email when our local event is scheduled,” Jackson said.

Volunteers are asked not to contact the health department directly.

Although not yet available to all members of the general public, vaccines are being administered to first responders, other health care providers and any resident over age 65.

However, the local health department was overwhelmed by requests for appointments for its weekly Tuesday vaccination day within hours of announcing it online on Monday (see related story).

Jackson said all seven counties in her district are currently receiving more vaccines than they can administer each week, due primarily to staffing limitations.

“We’re tasked with getting at least half of those vaccinations out each week and we’re close to that number but we’re seeing enough demand to do more than that,” Jackson said.

“Right now, more volunteer personnel to help us get vaccines out is our biggest need. We’ve already had some nurses reaching out and offering their help.”

Jackson said nursing students also will be utilized to help operate the event, which is designated by the state as a POD (point of distribution) and which will be held at a larger venue such as the Kingfisher County Fairgrounds.

“Eventually, we are going to be able to offer the vaccinations more often than just once a week, but until then, we’re hoping to catch up to some of the demand with this larger event,” Jackson said.