Gov. Jim Justice and state officials are determined to kick the statewide COVID-19 vaccination program into high gear, but they need our help.

On Thursday, the Randolph-Elkins Health Department coordinated a mass vaccination clinic at the Phil Gainer Community Center in Elkins. Hundreds of residents 65 years old and older from Randolph, Barbour, Tucker, Upshur, Webster and Pendleton counties were administered the COVID-19 vaccine during the clinic.

During the previous two weeks, more than 600 Randolph County residents age 70 and up were vaccinated during a series of events, first at the Randolph County Senior Center and later at the Phil Gainer Community Center.

Now another mass vaccination clinic is planned for next Thursday, Nov. 28, at the Phil Gainer Community Center. Once again the focus will be on vaccinating residents 65 years old and older from Randolph, Barbour, Tucker, Upshur, Webster and Pendleton counties.

However, Thursday’s event will be open to all West Virginians on a first call, first appointments basis.

And officials have indicated that the mass vaccination clinics on Thursday at the Phil Gainer Community Center may become a weekly event.

In order to vaccinate our most vulnerable friends and family members, and eventually vaccinate all of us, state and local officials need some helping hands.

If you want to make a difference in your community and help the statewide vaccination effort, please consider volunteering to help staff the vaccination clinics.

Help is needed with registration, way-finding and other tasks related to the weekly mass vaccination clinics. To sign up as a volunteer, please go to https://signup.com/go/avyHUgr.

Shift options are a half-day shift from 8 a.m. to noon, or from noon to 5 p.m., or full day shifts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The vaccination program is perhaps the most important thing happening in our state right now, and volunteering your time to help will be greatly appreciated. Volunteering will also make you feel better, because you know you’re a part of the solution.