Thousands of former healthcare workers are putting their retirements on hold to boost the COVID-ravaged health system.

Retired doctor Margaret Howsam reregistered to administer COVID-19 vaccines, travelling to aged and disability care facilities in Casino, Grafton, Lismore, Laurieton and Coffs Harbour to do so.

“A lot of hands were needed quite quickly, so many of us made ourselves available to help where we could,” she told Jim Wilson.

“[The vaccine rollout] was very disappointing at the start, and it’s so wonderful to see people taking it up more eagerly now.”

While returning to the workforce is very much an individual decision, she cautioned, many medical professionals are “only too happy” to join the effort.

“That’s what we basically entered our working lives to do.”

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