Mass-vaccination exercise gets flu shots to 1,584
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 02:49 p.m., October 12, 2007
Updated 02:49 p.m., October 12, 2007
Flint Hills Community Health Department officials couldn’t be more pleased about the process and results of a nine-hour pandemic flu exercise conducted Thursday in the Anderson Building at the Lyon County Fairgrounds.
“We thought it went really, really well,” said Ann Mayo, environmental health officer who was commander for the second such exercise conducted in the county.
The exercise offered a flu shot for $15 to anyone who wanted one and gave health professionals and others the practice they need to prepare for a pandemic outbreak of disease or other disaster.
During the first hour alone, 313 people filled out information sheets for screening before filing to shot stations located throughout the building.
Golf carts were lent by the municipal golf course and brought to the fairgrounds by Deer Trail Implement to ferry disabled people from the parking lot to the building. If necessary, nurses went to the parking lot to administer shots to patients in their cars.
Volunteers were assigned to let patients know what they needed to do and to show them where to go as they moved through the process, and to run supplies to the nurses at shot stations as needed. The nurses also quizzed patients about allergies and medications they were taking, to ensure that they could tolerate the vaccine safely.
By the time the clinic ended at 7 p.m., 1,584 people had been served.
“I easily think we could have probably run 500 through in an hour,” said Renee Hively, public health manager for the health department.
Law enforcement officers, nursing students, government officials and volunteers joined in the exercise, with representatives of the American Red Cross furnishing refreshments from its canteen.
“Volunteers are very appreciated for all they do,” said County Clerk Karen Hartenbower, who acted as public information officer for the exercise.
“We had a lot of support,” Hively said. “They would really be needed in a real event.”
The team of workers met after the exercise to discuss aspects that went well and ways the process could be improved.