More Shots in Arms: Scalable Learnings From a Continuous Improvement Effort to Deliver COVID-19 Vaccinations in Small Community-Based Clinics. (1st April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lawson, Bruce; Clark, Sean; Geraghty, Katie; Poggetti, Joanne; Stewart, James; Tarling, Paul
• Is Part Of: Disaster medicine and public health preparedness. Volume 17(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04-01
• Subjects: Capacity building -- community health planning -- disaster planning -- immunization -- COVID-19; Disaster medicine -- Periodicals; Emergency management -- Planning -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 363.34
• DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2022.94
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1935-7893

Abstract

Abstract: Existing mass vaccination clinic guidance calls for staffing and resource requirements that may not be achievable in smaller settings. Practical and scalable solutions to these problems were developed by a volunteer group of continuous improvement professionals, working to assist 2 non-governmental organizations engaged in coordinating refugee health services: the Somali Health Board of Seattle, WA and Community Health Services Inc. of Rochester, MN. Our shared goal was to get more shots in arms by bringing vaccines to small communities through pop-up clinics that are quick to set-up and require minimal resources. The clinics were developed using continuous improvement methods, thereby yielding a 2-minute vaccine administration time and an 8-fold improvement in productivity as a result of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidance. This report details our field-tested methods and achieved results. The relevance and benefits of this approach deserve attention as pandemic response needs continue to evolve and vaccines become more globally available.