The coronavirus vaccine is now widely available to most Americans 16 years or older. So how does everyone who wants the vaccine get it? The unprecedented volume coupled with an on-going pandemic pose many logistical challenges. Opening up mass vaccination sites emerged as the logical solution to get as many people vaccinated as quickly and safely as possible. Facilities such as stadiums, theme parks, and convention centers have plenty of space, vast parking, and have the capacity to administer thousands of doses daily.

A Hybrid Approach

Many initial mass vaccination plans relied heavily on community-based healthcare sites. These sites included facilities such as clinics, pharmacies, and public health organizations to name a few. While utilizing community-based healthcare sites to help vaccinate the population remains an essential component of the effort, larger venues, many of which aren't in use for their main purposes, offer capacity, space, and resources. The hybrid approach relying on community-based healthcare sites and integrating mass vaccination sites appears to be the path to achieve mass inoculation.

Here in Maryland, among the thousands of community-based healthcare vaccine facilities, several mass vaccination sites have opened to the public with plans for several more by May 2021. Some are even offering "walk up" hours without requiring an appointment. These mass vaccination sites were strategically placed and planned for in the most populous counties in Maryland. County health departments and other community health organizations are partnering with many other facilities around the region to make the Covid-19 vaccine as accessible as possible.

Mitigating Risks in a Non-Traditional Healthcare Setting

While there are many advantages to utilizing non-traditional healthcare facilities for mass vaccination efforts, it comes with no shortage of considerations and planning to assure operations are safe and efficient. Partnering with experts both in and outside of the healthcare industry will help identify challenges in these unusual settings and address all aspects of the operation ongoing so that sites are functional and provide a safe option for residents to access the vaccine.

Organizations like FEMA offer guidance for mass vaccination sites. Communication and consistency are key to mitigating risks, especially in a non-traditional healthcare setting where access to equipment, resources, and staff must be tactically coordinated. Some considerations for these operations include but not limited to are:

• Staffing - Clinical & Non-Clinical
• Specialized Equipment
• Supplies & Sharps Containers
• Training - Processes & Procedures
• Communication Plan
• Data Collection/Storage/Reporting
• Emergency Services
• Medical Waste Transport/Disposal

It is important to consult local, state, or federal agency guidelines for exact requirements and more information about operating a mass vaccination site.

Partnering with Biomedical Waste Services, Inc. at Your Vaccination Site

Here at Biomedical Waste Services, Inc. we have over 45 years of experience collecting, transporting, and disposing of biohazardous and infectious waste for a variety of industries in the mid-Atlantic area, including Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. We've partnered with many Covid-19 testing and mass vaccination sites across the mid-Atlantic to help manage biohazardous and infectious waste produced at these sites so that your operation is compliant and remains safe for staff and the community. We are in this together with the same goal to help stop the spread of this deadly virus. If your facility or organization is managing coronavirus vaccines, we have resources and services to cover your needs with no long-terms contracts. Call or contact us today to see how we can help your facility manage your biohazardous and infectious waste disposal needs.

References:

CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html

The Office of Governor Larry Hogan - Governor Hogan Announces Six More Mass Vaccination Sites in Maryland

https://governor.maryland.gov/2021/03/23/governor-hogan-announces-six-more-mass-vaccination-sites-in-maryland/

FEMA - Vaccine Support

https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/vaccine-support

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