Written by Michaela Abela
With the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines in Malta, came the need for trained individuals to distribute them to the population. With the hands of most medical professionals being full with the ongoing pandemic, the health authorities turned to medical students to help out. As always, the Malta Medical Students’ Association (MMSA) with great responsibility, keenly accepted this request and quickly gathered and is coordinating about 170 medical students who were very eager to help out with this vaccination process.
Medical students across all 5 years, are currently volunteering at vaccination hubs at the University of Malta, MCAST, SCSA St. Venera, Naxxar and Aurora Gozo. Here, the students are under the guidance and supervision of various medical professionals and entrusted with various roles including the preparation and administration of the vaccines and vetting of patients. Students have the knowledge to answer questions posed to them by the public, debunk some myths and give reassurance about the safety of vaccines.
Vaccination Process
In preparation, students were given access to an online training course to provide them with more information regarding the vaccine, its preparation and administration. This was then further strengthened with in person training and supervision to ensure everyone is sufficiently trained to safely administer the vaccine.
For some time, a number of preclinical medical students were also helping out at Mater Dei hospital with some administrative work and in other areas as required.
Sharing Experiences
Coordinating such voluntary opportunities takes lots of time and effort to organise and carry out, however, we are very grateful for them and are always more than happy to support the health authorities in any way, wherever possible. The response from students for such opportunities is always overwhelming so we asked two students to tell us all about their experience.
Sam Fleri Soler- 4th Year
After my great experience last year at the COVID Helpline, which was equally as fun and fulfilling, as the new opportunity to volunteer at the vaccine hubs was announced, I definitely did not think twice before signing up. Prior to starting, we were given access to online training which thoroughly explained how to prepare and administer the vaccines, which was then strengthened by training given by experienced tutors during our first shift. This opportunity has been very satisfying since we are directly involved in the whole vaccination drive and are helping hundreds of people per day to become vaccinated. Besides this, it has helped me to further improve my communication skills, practical skills and especially my ‘bedside manners’ when dealing with people who are afraid of needles or debunking myths that people have read online and putting their minds at rest. All in all it has been an invaluable experience so far and I am looking forward to the shifts to come.
Gerard Zammit Young – 1st year
After MMSA introduced us to an opportunity to volunteer, I felt a sense of duty to help out. From helping with administrative work behind the scenes, to administering the vaccines myself on the frontline, I feel that this opportunity has taught me valuable lessons in working in a clinical environment. With the training given and constant supervision provided during the vaccination process, as well as the buddy system introduced, I felt quite prepared to give the vaccine. As a pre-clinical student, the chance to come in contact with patients at such an early stage has greatly improved my communication and people-oriented skills, all while fulfilling a duty to help out during this once in a lifetime situation.
Concluding Words
MMSA has been helping out through such voluntary opportunities since the beginning of the pandemic in Malta. Over the past year, we helped out at the 111 helpline, 112 control room at Mater Dei, Situation Monitoring at MDH and also at swabbing centres.
(Michaela Abela, Jonathan George Grima and Gerard Zammit Young are coordinating the vaccination voluntary opportunity for medical students.)
More on MMSA’s COVID-19 Volunteering Experience here!
(Photo courtesy of MMSA)
