Teachers and students alike decided to vaccinate to make schools a safe place again. The mobile vaccination teams of health professionals from BIONT, provided by ADRA HELP TEAM BUS, also joined the „Vaccination Back to Schools“ programme of the Ministry of Education and Science.
What does the working day of the vaccination team look like? At 6:00 we start the bus, which after conversion serves as a small mobile ambulance and we load the necessary materials, medical equipment, computers, printers... On the way we bring the vaccination teams - doctors, nurses, a paramedic. We stop for vaccines, which we transfer to the refrigerator. After two hours on the road, we park in the schoolyard, where dozens of teachers and students who have been invited to vaccinate today are already waiting for us.
We are quickly dealing with the connection to the electricity grid, the wiring of computers, the space with chairs for the rest area, the water, the awning stairs, the ramp for wheelchair access... Meanwhile, the vaccination team is connecting to the online registration system, preparing the vaccines, the space for first aid.
The school staff, the city office and the city police help to organize people to make everything go as it should. Sometimes, problems with connecting to the online system cause delays and forehead wrinkles for doctors. But people are extremely considerate and patient.
Registration and initial medical examination, vaccination and then 15 minutes in peace, in case someone has an unpleasant reaction. Only one student got sick today and was left pale as a wall. „Did you drink water today?“ - routine question from the paramedic. „I haven't had anything to drink today...“ Two glasses of water quickly solved the nausea in this case. So we had to remind the others to drink as well.
After six hours of concentrated work (with lunch on the go), we pack up and move on to the next town. We set up on a side road in front of the church where a group of booked people are waiting to be vaccinated. It'll only be an hour or so, our backup batteries will do for the computers, printers and fridge. It is beautiful outside and we can make a rest area on the green grass.
The most powerful experience? An elderly lady - a senior citizen who signed up at the last minute. „I'm so happy that I'm already vaccinated too. I never dreamed it would be so fast... Of course I'm not scared. After all, I've already been vaccinated so many times: polio, diphtheria, typhoid, smallpox, hepatitis, flu... and now metaldehyde. You are wonderful people for coming to us...“
Tired, but with a feeling of some strange joy, we drive back to Bratislava. Today, more than 300 more people have taken an important step to gain immunity and stop the spread of the coronavirus. Along the way, we joke that instead of a „mobile vaccination unit“ sign, we might as well put a traditional „tour“ sign behind the window of our bus.
For more information about the possibilities and conditions of cooperation with our team as well as coordination of trips, please contact us at:
Mgr. Stanislav Bielik, stanislav.bielik@adra.sk, 0905 304 896
EN 
SK