First aid volunteers at the vaccination stations in Curaçao
Reading time 5 minutes
These days, Alegandra, Ethline, Eugene and Sonaida are mostly to be found at the vaccination stations. Normally, they are involved with Event Aid, but due to the measures, it was quiet in that area. There has been plenty to do at the four vaccination locations on Curaçao in recent months. The island has approximately 160,000 inhabitants. Of these, 107,381 have received their first vaccination, 98,427 two shots and 40,345 have had their boosters. Today we follow the volunteers at the Sentro Deportivo Kòrsou and St. Elisabeth Hospital vaccination stations.
08:35
ARRIVAL
Volunteer Alejandra parks the ambulance in front of the vaccination site. The first people are already sitting under the tent, waiting to go in for their vaccinations at 09:00. Alejandra has been active for more than four years with the Red Cross in Curaçao, including as a driver. "I love helping and being of service to others. As a child, I was a scout. For me, this made the choice to become a Red Cross volunteer a natural one. In addition to my full-time job, I try to work as many shifts as possible on the weekends."
09:00
PREPARING VACCINES
As the first people trickle in, the vaccines are collected. The day can officially begin. The Red Cross volunteers are prepared, visitors to the site have rolled up their sleeves and syringes, cotton wool and plasters are ready and waiting.
10:00
QUIET START
Volunteers Ethline and Alejandra are standing by in the rest room. Here, people who have just had their vaccine or booster have to wait 15 minutes. This way, they can be treated quickly if they have an allergic reaction to the injection or are unwell for some other reason. For both Ethline and Alejandra, it is one of the first times they have worked at this site. Usually they go to another vaccination station, but since the Red Cross has been supporting the St. Elisabeth Hospital in Willemstad again, they are here.
10:45
REASSURANCE
Volunteer Ethline has been a first aid instructor at the Red Cross Curaçao since 1991. In addition to her job as a deputy director of a primary school, she does voluntary work for the Red Cross. "If you have a passion for something, you will find a way to make it work. Coordination with your partner is very important here." Good communication is also important at the sites. For example, she answers the questions of someone who has just had her second shot. It is often the case that people get nervous while waiting. A Red Cross volunteer can provide reassurance by answering questions.
12:15
PREPARED FOR ANYTHING
Since this vaccination station is located in a former hospital, it has all the necessary equipment in case someone becomes seriously ill after an injection. This does not happen often, but prevention is better than cure.
13:25
CONTACT POINT
Ethline and Alejandra gain energy from the work they do for the Red Cross. As a volunteer at the vaccination station, they are the contact point for people who have questions after they have been vaccinated or received a booster. There is enough time and opportunity to have a chat with someone who is waiting.
14:45
NOT AFRAID
At the beginning of the vaccination period, people were sometimes afraid of an injection. Now it is less common. By now, the majority of the inhabitants of Curaçao have been vaccinated. So they know how it feels. As a result, the fear people feel when they walk into the vaccination room is less and the atmosphere is more relaxed.
15:45
LAST VACCINATIONS
The end of the working day is approaching. The Sentro Deportivo Kòrsou location in Brievengat is therefore not so busy. Volunteer Eugene, who has been volunteering with the Red Cross Curaçao for 16 years, enjoys the fact that he can do voluntary work in addition to his full-time job. With ten years of volunteer experience, Sonaida has also seen a lot of the Red Cross. Because of this, no situation is too crazy for her. While the last injections are being given inside, a handful of people are waiting outside for their 15-minute wait to be over.
16:00
PANDEMIC ON ITS WAY OUT
'Kreando, reinventando i bibando mei di COVID-19' or 'create, rediscover and live during Covid-19'. That is how the vaccination programme on Curaçao is brought to the attention of the population. The fact that a large part of the island population has already been vaccinated is reflected at the four vaccination stations that the Red Cross supports on Curaçao. It is now relatively quiet. This allows the volunteers to close the doors at 16:00.