Maria Anton shares what keeps her motivated through the many challenges of the pandemic. She works at the Bingeman's and Boardwalk COVID-19 vaccination clinics, and in the photo she is preparing Moderna doses on a day when the clinic had 1,600 appointments.
by Maria Anton, Rx2022
Throughout this pandemic I’ve been privileged to witness the strength and resilience of our community.
When the pandemic started, I was a second-year pharmacy student completing my first coop at Grand River Hospital. I am now a fourth-year student about to enter my clinical rotations.
I had never anticipated how significant the role pharmacists, students, and technicians would play in this pandemic. Fortunately, the School of Pharmacy was the biggest supporter and advocate for students to actively be involved in the vaccination efforts within our community. I currently work part-time immunizing at Rexall and the Boardwalk Clinic, and part-time at the Bingaman’s Clinic involved in vaccine draw-up and assisting clinic leads and administration.
One of the many reasons I’ve been so involved in the community vaccination efforts has stemmed from fear of the unknown. Every week it feels like something has changed regarding our knowledge of the virus and the recommendations we should be providing to our patients.
Fear of the unknown has been a major source of the burnout I’ve witnessed many of my colleagues’ experiences two years into this pandemic. It has not only driven me to empathize with the fear my patients must be experiencing, but to also work hard to overcome it and to contribute the skills and training I have acquired in a meaningful way.
Although there are some days that feel harder than others, the small acts of kindness and gratitude I’ve been fortunate to receive from patients keeps me motivated to stay involved in our community initiatives. It continuously amazes me how a simple thank you from a patient can make all the stress and exhaustion instantly worthwhile.
I know we still have a long way to go before we can all feel fully safe and no longer fearful of this pandemic, but the incredible work of my colleagues and the other allied healthcare professionals I have been fortunate to work with makes me feel comfortable knowing we are one step closer.