195664 Utilizing a drive-through clinic model for mass vaccine or medication prophylaxis in a pandemic flu outbreak or bio-terrorism event

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 2:30 PM

Kimberly Cervantes, MA, MPH, CIC , Community Health Planning Division, Cape May County Department of Health, Cape May Court House, NJ
Mary Pat Hastings, RN MSN , Nursing, Cape May County Health Department, Cape May Court House, NJ
Emergency Preparedness has been a grave concern in our nation. Creative strategies to adequately deliver prophylaxis to the community in a timely manner has been at the fore front of public health planning. Our county has utilized a drive-through format to administer annual flu vaccine with great success for over a decade. Other means of distribution may be incorporated into the process such as Points of Distribution (PODs), First Responder Distribution, and Fixed Facilities Distribution. These distribution plans are part of the New Jersey medication dispensing plans. The Cape May County flu drive-through has been hailed as a model for the state. Other NJ counties have adopted this model for administration of flu vaccine but not to the capacity that our county has been able to demonstrate. The Cape May County Department of Health has been able to vaccinate up to 4200 individuals in approximately 6-7 hours with a throughput of over 600/hour.

This presentation will describe the mechanism for setting up the clinic. Staffing needs, promotional, and educational aspects will be discussed as well as lessons learned over the course of the last decade.

Learning Objectives:
Identify at least two strategies for mass distribution of vaccine/medication to the public. Describe the drive-through clinic methodologies. Discuss adaption to community preparedness plans especially for the elderly and special needs populations.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Responsible for planning, organizing, and staffing drive-through clinic
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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