Rotary Volunteers support COVID Vaccination Helpline

Rotary has a team of volunteers from the Rotary Clubs of District 6330 Passport, Meaford, Paisley, Southampton, Thornbury Clarksburg, Walkerton and Wiarton working 7 days a week from 8 till 8 in 3 hour shifts supporting the Community Connection call centre operation.

The volunteers work from their own homes and provide surge capacity to the call centre,

supporting the Grey Bruce Health unit in offering local on demand personal support to callers needing advice and help in booking a COVID-19 vaccination appointment.

After a short intensive course volunteers can sign up for shifts to provide advice and assistance to callers. Typically, a volunteer will handle around 30 calls in a 3 hour shift. Numbers vary depending on call volumes and the complexity of the query.

Walkerton Rotarian Don Moore, who is coordinating the volunteer team within Grey Bruce said. “Most callers are concerned on how to book a vaccination appointment? Some callers just want to vent on why the vaccination rollout is not happening faster and others are very grateful to speak and share their concerns and issues to someone from a call centre situated within the Grey Bruce area. The availability of vaccination appointments is always dependent upon the flow of vaccines into the Grey Bruce Health Unit.”

Southampton Rotarian Tony Sheard said. “I am surprised how quickly I became familiar and comfortable with the role of helping and reassuring our callers. One funny moment was when I was and asked because of my British accent was the call centre in the UK!”

Southampton Rotarian Tony signs off from a three-hour shift as a call centre advisor for the Community Connections COVID-19 vaccination help line. Community Connection provides the 211 Service in Ontario. #RotaryResponds.

For further information call Tony on 519 797 3151 or email tony.sheard@gmail.com

Community Connection – https://communityconnection.ca/

About Southampton Rotary:  Southampton Rotary has served this community for over 80 years. We are a group of friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who unite and take action to create lasting change in our community and around the world. We are people of action who have used our passion, energy, and skills to improve lives through service. From promoting literacy and peace to providing clean water, protecting the environment and improving health care, Rotary members are always working to better the world or as we like to say doing “DOGOODERY!”