Vaccination centre managers hail from diverse backgrounds
They include pilots and supervisors who apply their previous work experience in new role
Before Covid-19 struck, Ms Joey Yap ran fine-dining establishments where she managed staff, handled administrative duties and personally served dignitaries.
Now, she applies that experience as she oversees operations at the Potong Pasir Community Club vaccination centre.
For the past eight months, the vaccination centre manager with Thomson Medical has been handling the flow of patients and dealing with various issues.
Ms Yap, 44, knows she plays a critical role in Singapore's fight against the coronavirus. "We are tasked with the important role of vaccinating Singaporeans for a better tomorrow," she said.
There are at least 80 vaccination centre managers in Singapore, a check by The Straits Times has found. They are in charge of the overall operations at these facilities.
ST understands that most of these managers earn at least $3,500 a month, depending on their experience. They are on a one-year contract but some have secured other permanent roles with healthcare providers following their stints.
Many centre managers have work experience outside the healthcare sector. They include former events and project managers, retail and transport supervisors, pilots and flight attendants.
Ms Yap was working in Vietnam as a manager at a fine-dining restaurant before she returned to Singapore last year when Covid-19 hit.
When the opportunity to work as a vaccination centre manager popped up, she gamely took up the challenge.
"With no formal training or experience in healthcare, the role seemed daunting at first," she said.
Thomson Medical - which has six centre managers across its three vaccination centres - put her through two weeks of training, covering different aspects.
Ms Yap and her fellow managers, who are in their mid-30s to late 40s, learnt about clinical protocols such as vaccine administration and patient flow, as well as safety procedures on infection control and emergencies.
They also have to be familiar with the information technology systems used for patient registration and retrieving records.
The managers are briefed on the centre's layout and the various staff roles. They work closely with ushers, doctors, nurses and administrative staff.
The vaccination centre managers get help from on-site agents deployed by the Health Ministry to keep operations running smoothly.
Ms Chan Wei Ling, chief executive of specialist centres at Thomson Medical, said running a vaccination centre requires staff with strong operational and people management skills.
"Having experience in front-line service is definitely valuable for the centre manager role, as they have to manage not only patients but also the staff at the vaccination centre," she said.
"They have to be able to think quickly on their feet to troubleshoot and manage situations."
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now