Safety and Security at
Mass Influenza Vaccination Clinics
These recommendations were developed to assist local health
departments and other mass immunizers anticipate and respond to safety
and security issues that may occur at large-scale influenza vaccination
clinics. These recommendations are based on the Division of Public
Health Mass Clinic Planning Template and the collective experience of
persons at the state and local levels who have planned and conducted
large-scale vaccination clinics.
Public Outreach
- Obtain broadcast and print media assistance
- Advise
- For whom the clinic is intended and not intended
- What patients should bring for identification and, if
determined to be necessary locally, risk verification (e.g.,
medication bottle, medic alert bracelet, or physician’s note).
- That persons without risk factors will not be vaccinated
- How to access vaccination sites via pubic/private
transportation
- Regarding available services, e.g., transportation, for
special needs population
- Regarding hours of clinic operation
Scheduling options
- Give appointments or appointment blocks to avoid long waiting
lines.
- Give appointments to persons waiting in line, permitting those who
so choose to leave and return at the appointed time.
- Provide sequential numbers on a first-come, first served basis up
to the number of doses available and secure the clinic.
Plan for security
- Identify clinic staff to calm patients who are disruptive.
- Contact local law enforcement agency and identify who can be
contacted if necessary for crowd/disruptive patient control. The
level of law enforcement presence will be determined by the local
law enforcement agency.
- Security personnel can be used to maintain crowd control outside
and security within the clinic, assist with clinic and traffic
control and other security matters.
Plan for response to a medical emergency
- Have clear, written procedures established to deal with
emergencies caused by both vaccine adverse reactions and other
reactions that could be triggered by stress (e.g., syncope, heart
attacks, anaphylactic shock or asthma).
- Identify clinic staff to manage patients who experience a medical
emergency or have symptoms of respiratory infection.
- Identify medical personnel (e.g., first responders) who can be
contacted if a patient attending the clinic develops a medical
emergency.
Traffic flow
- Parking should be available adjacent to clinic location, well lit
and paved.
- Be sure all areas are accessible to those with special needs.
- Use signage and/or staff to guide people through the clinic.
- Hang signage high enough for maximum visibility. Don’t hang
signs from tables.
- Signage mounting instructions: Doorway: 60" from floor to
center of sign on latch side of door. Overhead: 80" minimum
from floor to bottom of sign. Post: 60" from floor to bottom of
sign.
- Provide an express lane for frail and disabled patients.
Waiting area
- Provide seating, good ventilation, access to toilet facilities,
tissues, alcohol hand washing gel, waste paper baskets.
- Post information on preventing spread of respiratory diseases.
See Public Education Materials.
Patient triage
- Screen individuals for risk factors individually.
- If determined to be necessary locally, verify proof of risk.
- Divert individuals who do not have risk factors.
- Apologize that there is not enough vaccine to immunize them this
year and note that the Emergency Order prohibits immunizing outside
the priority groups.
- Provide handout on other ways to avoid
influenza (PDF, 97 KB).
- Provide handout on signs and symptoms of influenza and when to
seek care.
- Encourage / offer pneumococcal vaccine if eligible and vaccine is
available.
Respond to unruly patients
- Attempt to calm patients who are very upset or disruptive
(designated staff person).
- Contact security personnel if behavior escalates.
Respond to patient with medical emergencies
- Assess patient’s medical problem (designated staff person).
- Contact first responder if medical emergency present.
Respond to patients with respiratory symptoms
- Offer tissues and alcohol hand washing gel.
- Offer surgical mask to contain large droplets.
- If symptoms cannot be controlled (e.g., continuous coughing)
escort patient from clinic and advise to delay immunization until
symptoms resolve.
Influenza Home Page
Last Revised: October 19, 2007 |
