LAUSR

Existing mass vaccination clinic guidance calls for staffing and resource requirements that may not be achievable in smaller settings. Practical, scalable solutions to these problems were developed by a volunteer group of continuous improvement professionals, working to assist two non-governmental organizations engaged in coordinating refugee health services: the Somali Health Board of Seattle, WA and Community Health Services Inc. of Rochester, MN. Our shared goal was to get more shots in arms by bringing vaccines to small communities through pop-up clinics that are quick to set-up and require minimal resources. The clinics were developed using continuous improvement methods, yielding a two-minute vaccine administration time and an eight-fold improvement in productivity from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidance. This report details our field-tested methods and results achieved. The relevance and benefits of this approach deserve attention as pandemic response needs continue to evolve and vaccines become more globally available.