Megan Bryson-Jaccino and her sister, Melissa Bryson, have spent the last few weeks helping people get signed up for the COVID-19 vaccine. They’re two of the 40 volunteers in the Hudson Valley Vaccine Appointment Assistance Team (VAAT) volunteering their time to do this.

But for this duo, the inspiration was truly a family affair.

“I actually was trying to find a vaccine appointment for my mom, and I realized how daunting it could be," Melissa Bryson said. "I was getting up at 4 in the morning and constantly refreshing the page for the state site.”

After helping their mom and realizing how difficult it could be for seniors to juggle and navigate these websites, Megan and Melissa joined VAAT. In the last three weeks since they started, the pair has helped secure appointments for 250 people.

Admittedly, they didn’t expect to be doing this kind of volunteering.

“We didn’t see ourselves here, but the opportunity arose, so here we are," Megan said.

They spend hours each day, tracking websites and appointment seekers through their notebooks, phones, tablet, and laptop. So how do they keep the momentum?

“Talking to people on the phone and hearing how grateful they are, it just makes you feel good that you can help somebody who really wanted to get the vaccine but had no idea how to start. Really, it just kinda brightens your day," Megan said.

VAAT is looking at joining the Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County so that it can expand and broaden its ability to provide vaccine appointments – or as Megan and Melissa say, so they can put shots in arms and help beat COVID.

“They can come to us and we will get them a vaccine appointment if that’s what they want. That’s the most important thing," Megan said.