The H1N1 influenza vaccination clinic held at Minnesota State University (MSU), in Mankato on December 19, 2009 was one of the largest public mass dispensing clinics in the state of Minnesota during the H1N1 pandemic response. A total of 5,025 people were vaccinated during the six-hour clinic.
Blue Earth County Public Health had the unique opportunity to fully collaborate with community agencies in the planning and implementation of this event. During the initial stages of the H1N1 pandemic, the "Greater Mankato Area Vaccination Planning Group" was formed. This planning group consisted of multiple partners, including: Immanuel St. Joseph's Mayo Health System, Mankato Clinic, Blue Earth County Public Health, Blue Earth County Emergency Management, Independent School District 77, MSU, and the City of Mankato. The goal of the planning group was to implement a vaccination plan that reached as many people as possible. This was achieved by combining resources and meeting weekly to discuss, organize, and implement both communication and mass vaccination strategies.
As H1N1 vaccine became more readily available and while public demand remained high, the group decided to organize a large-scale clinic at the MSU track and field house. This was the perfect venue, as it provided a large indoor space to escape the cold weather with ample room for line staging. The clinic was free and available to the public, and the event occurred one month after a previous public vaccination clinic during which many children were vaccinated. This provided an opportunity to administer second doses for children ages 9 and under.
In order to implement this large event, each planning partner provided staff to work at the clinic. Public volunteers and nursing students were also recruited, and a total of 233 staff were utilized to operate this six-hour event. Locating staffing for the clinic was challenging due to the close proximity to the holiday season, therefore most staff preferred to work half shifts, contributing to the large total number of staff needed. The planning partners that were pre-registered also provided vaccine and vaccination supplies. Other miscellaneous supplies, such as cones, caution tape, tables, chairs, signs, radios, etc. were provided by MSU and Blue Earth County Emergency Management.
The layout of the vaccination site was crucial to maintaining efficient flow. Since there were multiple types of vaccine available, each was color-coded. Starting at triage, a color-coded sticker was placed on the consent form to indicate which vaccine should be administered. Next, the public were guided to the matching, color-coded table where that vaccine was administered. Also at that table was a large sign indicating which age group should receive that vaccine formulation, to prevent errors. There were multiple tables for each vaccine formulation, and a vaccine management team kept the tables stocked with vaccine and supplies.
To spread the word about this event, planners sent public service announcements to media partners, ran newspaper ads in all county papers, played radio advertisements, sent out Chamber of Commerce e-blasts, held news conferences and public forums to address questions, sent home fliers with schoolchildren, posted up-to-date information on all partners and media websites, sent e-mails to relevant list-servs, posted information on community calendars, displayed posters throughout the area, and made radio talk-show appearances to share the latest information. Jessica Beyer, Public Information Specialist with Blue Earth County, attributes much of the success with this clinic to consistent messaging, ability to quickly get the word out through collaborations with other agencies and the receptive partnerships already established with the local media. Successful strategies included:
* keeping communication team members involved in every step of the process,
* using the team approach to planning,
* stretching the dollar by sharing the burden among planning agencies, and
* utilizing community partners effectively.
Some highlights of the clinic included: a shuttle bus that transported the public between the parking lot and the venue, a special needs area with separate parking and entrance, and visits from Santa Claus and Stomper (the MSU mascot). Jessica Roe, Emergency Planner at Blue Earth County Public Health, said, "It was a great success and we are proud to have been a part of this event and to serve our community by working together."