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Opportunity to Help with COVID-19 Vaccine and Response

Team FSSA,

As you have likely heard by now, our sister agency, the Indiana Department of Health, has launched a massive effort to get Hoosiers vaccinated for COVID-19. This effort is underway at hospitals across the state. You may be able to help in this historic public health effort! IDOH is looking for state employees who could work some or all of their work hours helping with projects related to the COVID-19 vaccine and response. This could include the call center, provider/public portal, hospital vaccine clinic support or response support staff.

If interested, please talk to your manager to ensure that some of your work time could be redirected to this effort.

IDOH currently has the following response projects in the works:

COVID-19 Call Center:

  • IDOH COVID-19 Call Center representatives handle inbound calls from the public, answer questions and inquiries, troubleshoot problems and escalate issues to the ISDH COVID-19 Call Center supervisor as appropriate. This work requires the call center representative to use judgment in applying pertinent guidelines and standards by ensuring the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s guidance is followed. Web-based training is provided on the types of questions asked and how to best respond.


COVID-19 Provider Portal:

  • Assigned staff will be given access to our COVID-19 Provider Portal. Staff will be tasked with answering questions and inquiries, troubleshooting problems and escalating issues to the IDOH Provider Portal supervisor as appropriate.  This work requires the staff member to apply appointment changes on the back end of our system (Zotec/Accenture) and ensure CDC guidance is followed. Web-based training is provided to all staff members on the system along with resources on the types of questions asked and best practices.

Hospital Vaccine Clinic Support:

  • Assigned staff will observe, coordinate and track the vaccination efforts, specifically at the mass vaccinating hospitals. Duties would include being the daily point of contact for IDOH, entering data into IDOH’s tracking system, and collecting information about barriers and best practices. {Note: These positions are currently filled}

Response Support Staff:

  • These individuals will be identified as supports of current initiatives. This could involve field staff, administrative supports, data analysis and serving as a subject matter expert in a specific category. This position requires at least an 8-week commitment for the duration of vaccine rollout and would be your primary source of work hours.

    If your manager agrees you can devote some of your time to this worthy cause, please indicate your interest and availability on the Indiana Department of Health COVID-19 Response Volunteer Opportunities Form. If you have any additional questions, please contact Nicole Morley at NMorley@isdh.in.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Can I do this work remotely?
    At this time, the only opportunity with remote capability is the Provider Portal.
  • What skills are necessary to do this work?
    There is no required skill set but it does not hurt for staff to feel comfortable working independently, have strong communication skills, and the ability to adapt on the go. We have a team dedicated to setting up user accounts, providing training and technical assistance to our representatives in the field. Any staff that works on a response project will be connected to appropriate resources, training and FAQs.
  • What is the rate of pay?
    All state employees who work in this capacity will be paid at the same rate of pay they currently receive from their current agency.
  • Can I get overtime for working at the call center?
    Non-exempt employees will receive overtime pay for any overtime worked.
  • Who pays for my time?
    Your current agency will continue to pay for your work hours. However, your agency will be reimbursed through IDOH for any time worked on the COVID-19 response.
  • How should I record my time worked on the COVID-19 on my timesheet?
    Any time worked for the response should be noted in User Field 3 as Code No.: 200126 Coronavirus on your timesheet.
  • How will I be trained for these duties?
    If you are identified to participate in a response activity, IDOH will coordinate with you to ensure that you are properly trained to serve in your assigned capacity.
  • What approvals do I need from my agency to work on the COVID-19 Response?
    Approval from your manager and division director is required. State employees should discuss with their managers to ensure COVID-19 response work should not interfere with any current duties or obligations they have with their home agency.
  • Will I be at risk of becoming sick if I work in this capacity?
    Each of these positions is structured in a way to promote best practices for the safety of the individual, team and, if applicable, patient. IDOH has worked to ensure that when working in positions that support response efforts we are following best practices for social distancing, mask use and general hand-hygiene, and are promoting a safe and clean work environment.

    Our call center is now housed in cubicles spaced accordingly, the provider portal can be completed remotely, and all other response opportunities emphasize the importance of these safety protocols while in the field with facilities. Before entering a field posting, IDOH will provide you with the pertinent details of where to report, if necessary work with your agency to set up accommodations, connect you with a supervisor and point of contact for the site, and provide all required PPE.
  • Should I not work at this location if I live with someone who is in a high-risk population?
    The Indiana Department of Health would encourage staff living with someone in a high-risk population to participate in either a call center or provider portal capacity to reduce any risk of exposure and encourages staff to routinely revisit SPDs COVID-19 guidelines for returning to the workplace.