COVID-19 inoculations are well underway at vaccination sites across the United States, with both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech already in deployment and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine having received emergency use authorization by the FDA. While we await further FDA approval of promising candidates, by vaccine providers like Novavax and AstraZeneca, millions of individuals are inoculated daily.
One of the biggest challenges facing the immunization process is the logistics of opening a vaccination site. In this post, we’ll cover information you need to prepare your facility or off-site location for vaccinating your local community including:
- Having the Right Supplies On-Hand
- Ensuring Your Site is Properly Staffed
- Following CDC Vaccination Guidelines and Laws
- Keeping Your COVID-19 Vaccines Stored Properly
Have the Right Vaccination Supplies On-Hand
When setting up a COVID-19 off-site, temporary, or satellite vaccination clinic, you’ll want to make sure your staff is prepared with the right equipment and supplies. By tooling your team with the resources they need to safely and effectively administer vaccines you can better ensure that the inoculation process is done properly.
Some of these supply essentials include:
- Sterile Alcohol Prep Pads
- Needles and Syringes
- Nitrile Medical Gloves
- Sharps Containers
- Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer
- Sanitizing Products
- N95 Masks
- Face Shields
Proper signage, guide cones, and outdoor drive-thru tents can also assist in making the vaccination process simple and easy for potential patients. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has compiled a comprehensive supply checklist that can prove useful during setup.
Ensure That Your Site, Clinic, or Healthcare Facility Is Properly Staffed
Vaccinating your community requires a lot of person-power. Proper staffing means more than just having clinical staff to administer the vaccine, many vaccination sites also require a patient registration coordinator to process patients, a daily route manager to guide traffic, and keep records, a staff trainer to coach the clinical staff on how to document vaccine administration for patients and a area visual manager to monitor patient flow.
While many vaccination sites have relied on help from volunteers, supplementing with paid help can prove useful. CNECT has a are a wide variety of on-demand staffing companies on contract that can provide you with the expertise and assistance you need to open an effective vaccination site. Contact a representative today to learn more about staffing physician and non-medical staff.
Follow the Vaccination Guidelines and Laws
The CDC has a number of clearly established requirements and laws that all vaccination sites must adhere to. These laws extend beyond sites related to COVID-19 and should be followed so as to protect the safety and privacy of patients. In some states and local communities, sites are required to have patients fill out vaccination consent forms, check with your state for requirements.
Keep Your COVID-19 Vaccines Properly Stored
Proper vaccine storage is a top priority for any COVID-19 immunization site. This is particularly true when administering the current vaccines doses developed by Pfizer- BioNTech and Moderna. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires the use of an ultra-low temperature freezer that can keep the vaccine between -80 °C and -60 °C. The Moderna vaccine can last up to 30-days when properly refrigerated between 2 °C and 8 °C. Meanwhile, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can remain effective for up to three months when kept at routine refrigeration temperatures between 2 °C and 8 °C.
By following these protocols, you can ensure all of your doses are effective for your potential patients.
How CNECT Can Help You in Your Vaccine Distribution
As an industry-leading group purchasing organization (GPO), CNECT is here to assist your business by providing access to supplies and resources to help your healthcare organization in fighting the spread of COVID-19 and vaccinating your local communities. From live educational webinars, to newsletters that provide you with contracts and resources to ensure your facility remains prepared, we’re to help. Sign up for our newsletter to receive regular updates.