Turning on the Spigot for H1N1 Vaccine – a Community Approach

Background: On Wed. Oct. 21, 2009, Maricopa County Public Health (MCDPH) along with Scottsdale Healthcare, a local private hospital, devised a strategy to hold the community’s first H1N1 flu clinics across the greater Phoenix-Metro area. The challenge; idea to execution in 3 days. MCDPH needed to locate enough vaccine in its county of 3.7 million, mobilize staff and ensure that communication to the public was clear and concise and it could not pull off this feat without help. MCDPH reached out to The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI), its immunization coalition, to coordinate with its multitude of community partners. In addition, through its relationship with Mollen Immunizations, MCDPH requested that all of its vaccine that had been given to Mollen for upcoming school-based clinics be given back temporarily for these clinics. MCDPH also requested Mollen’s help in coordinating these clinics.

Setting: Various settings including clinics, retail sites and hospital settings.

Population: Individuals at highest risk for H1N1: children, pregnant women and caregivers to those under 6 months of age.

Project Description: With only 36 hours to plan, coordinate and execute 40 H1N1 flu clinics simultaneously on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. Vaccine would only be available to those at highest risk in the county.

Results/Lessons Learned: After 40 clinics and 17,000 doses of flu vaccine administered, the clinics were deemed a success. With help from local media, the majority of people not considered high risk got the message and did not even come out to the clinics. This enormous undertaking was truly an example of the power of private/public partnerships. Both sectors had a distinct role in ensuring the success of these clinics and both went above and beyond for the good of the community.