Innovative Community Immunization Strategies:

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Innovative Community Immunization
Strategies Drive-Through Flu Clinics
Wanda Carey RN, BSN, CIC Infection Control
Manager Norwood Hospital Norwood, MA
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In 2007 our Influenza Immunization Planning Group
posed the question . . .

• What could we do to improve our public flu
  clinics?

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And someone in the crowd asked
What if we did a Drive-Through Public Flu
Clinic??
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Why a Drive-Through?

• Inquiring minds want to know
• Provides easier access
• Especially helpful for families
• Generates favorable publicity
• People love it!

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And on the pandemic front

• Decreases opportunities for exposure during
  outbreaks or epidemics
• Can serve as an exercise for disaster planning
  (Incident Command System) and mass immunization
  (POD sites)

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So how did we do it?

• Three easy steps
• Planning
• Planning
• More Planning!

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First we identified our goal

• To administer vaccine efficiently and safely to
  people who might otherwise have difficulty
  getting immunized.

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Then there were considerations

• Layout
• Traffic flow
• Space considerations
• Stations

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More considerations

• Timing
• Day vs. night
• Day of the week
• When during the campaign season
• Duration of clinic

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And still more considerations

• How about that New England weather?
• Plan for rain
• Plan for snow
• Plan for cold
• Plan for the unexpected

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And (dare we say it) still more considerations

• How about the Town?
• Town Manager Board of Selectmen
• Board of Health
• Police Department

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And dont forget the staffing

• Who should be included?
• Nurses
• Registration personnel
• Security
• Volunteers
• Food Nutrition Folks
• Environmental Services
• Pharmacy
• Paramedic Services
• Interpreting Services
• Public Relations

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And the supplies

• Paper supplies
• Registration insurance papers
• Receipts for cash
• VIS consent forms
• Questionnaire
• Hospital information

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And more supplies

• Medical supplies
• Sanitizer
• Safety needles
• Syringes
• Alcohol wipes
• Gauze
• Gloves
• Spot bandaids
• Vaccine

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And yet more supplies

• Miscellaneous Supplies
• Needle disposal boxes
• Trash receptacles
• Chairs
• Tables
• Overbed tables
• Baskets
• Vaccine containers

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Still more supplies

• And dont forget
• Emergency kit (epi-pen, etc.)
• Safety vests for staff
• Portable lights/flashlights
• Umbrellas/raingear
• Handwarmers
• Snacks (if providing)
• Clipboards

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So what were our stations?

• Station 1
• Registration Station
• Register patients
• Collect insurance information
• Collect fees
• Give VIS consent forms

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Station 2

• Immunization Station
• Query regarding allergies contraindications
• Answer vaccine questions
• Provide the immunization
• Include a separate area for walk-ins (if allowed)
• HOV and express lanes (if desired)

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Station 3

• Post-Immunization Station
• Distribute literature/freebies
• Provide beverage cookies
• Conduct survey engage in conversation
• Watch for any sign of reactions to immunization

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Additional Station

• Staff Respite Station
• Provide beverages snacks for staff
• Have extra handwarmers, raingear, etc. available
• Gives the staff a quieter place to sit for a
  moment and take a break

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So how did it go?

• It was GREAT!!

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From start to finish
They lined up early .
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Into Every Life A Little Rain Must Fall . . .

• And they didnt mind the rain!

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And They Came . . .

• And they didnt mind the cold.

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And They Came . . .

• And they didnt mind the traffic.

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And They Came . . .

• And they didnt mind the dark.

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And They Kept On Coming . . .

• And they didnt even really mind the needles . .
  .

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And The Time Flew By!
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Our Motto

• Roll down your window
• Roll up your sleeve,
• And put er in park!

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And The Results Were . . .

• Phenomenal!
• 182 shots given our first year and 396 in our
  second!!

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The Feedback Was . . .

• 578 Rave Reviews!
• They liked the people
• They liked the goodies
• They liked the low cost (we charged 20 to cover
  our costs easily cheaper than going to dinner
  and a movie and better protection too!)
• But what they liked best of all . . .

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The Customers Bottom Line . . .

• Is that it was
• DRIVE-THROUGH!

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Our Conclusions

• There was a cost
• 578 doses of influenza vaccine . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . 6358.00
• 578 safety needles, gauze pads, alcohol wipes,
  and spot bandaids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . 722.50
• 585 cups of juice packages of cookies . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . 473.85
• 3 police details for 4 hours each . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . . . 533.85
• 580 packets of promotional materials
  information . . . . . . . 823.60
• ...

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Our Conclusions

• But there was great benefit
• 578 people immunized, some of whom might
  otherwise not have been immunized

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Our Conclusions

• And favorable (and FREE) front-page coverage in
  the Globe, front-page picture in the Transcript,
  and coverage on the
• 6 pm, 11 pm, and 6 am news on Channel 5 . . .

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Our Conclusion

• Priceless!

?
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Contact Information

• Wanda Carey RN, BSN, CIC
• Wanda.Carey_at_caritaschristi.org
• 781-278-6326