The Adaptation of a Clinic-Adjacent Parking Garage for Drive-In COVID-19 Vaccination

Abstract

Purpose: The distribution and vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines to billions of people worldwide will likely be one of the biggest public health undertakings in history. There has been a large focus on identifying processes to safely, efficiently, and effectively vaccinate large populations. We aimed to describe the development and operationalization of a drive-in COVID-19 vaccine site in a parking garage adjacent to outpatient clinics at University of Florida (UF) Health Physicians and how it was informed by the roll-out of SARS-CoV-2 testing and administration of respiratory vaccinations. Design/Methodology/Approach: A technical description and analysis of a drive-in COVID-19 vaccine site. Findings: We incrementally increased the number of vaccines performed per day from 300 in the first 2 weeks to 700 an additional 2 weeks later. By the end of January, we completed nearly 14 000 vaccinations. At this capacity, we estimate the site could performed 5000 vaccinations per week. Practical Implications: This manuscript provides step-by-step guidance how to develop, operationalize, and implement a sustainable drive-in COVID-19 vaccination site. Originality/Value: To our knowledge, this is the first description of a drive-in approach to COVID-19 vaccination. Our findings can help inform other health entities as they develop or expand vaccination efforts that may serve as a template for other sites to adapt.

Applying Lean principles to create a high throughput mass COVID-19 vaccination site

“…Another parking lot vaccination programme in Florida applied PDSA cycles, but did not use value stream mapping to achieve an average output of 8.6 vaccinations/vaccinator/hour. 12 In Italy, vaccine stations were established in a large open parking lot and achieved a similar output of 8 vaccinations/vaccinator/hour. 13 A college in Montana created a vaccination site for students and faculty and conducted two 1-day sessions that vaccinated 807 and 776 individuals.…”

“…A mass-vaccination site in San Diego took place in a 280 000 square foot parking lot and used 300 as compared with our 78 personnel to deliver 5000 vaccines/day,11 our approach achieving 3.4-fold higher productivity. Another parking lot vaccination programme in Florida applied PDSA cycles, but did not use value stream mapping to achieve an average output of 8.6 vaccinations/vaccinator/hour 12. In Italy, vaccine stations were established in a large open parking lot and achieved a similar output of 8 vaccinations/vaccinator/hour 13.…”

Planning and Organization of the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign: An Overview of Eight European Countries

“…At the same time, in order to reach an equitable vaccine distribution and access, especially in medically unserved rural areas, many countries have involved pharmacies in the vaccination campaign [ 10 ]. Public health authorities have also offered drive-in or mobile clinic services to populations living in rural areas or neighborhoods [ 11 ]. Eventually, many companies have used mobile clinics or existing occupational health clinics to vaccinate their employees and family members based on the evidence of the success of these initiatives in increasing vaccination uptake [ 12 ].…”