Defending the Homeland: WRNMMC Operates Drive-Up Immunization Clinic
Lindsey Minto, a Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) beneficiary, receives an immunization in the WRNMMC’s Drive-Up Immunization Clinic.
Recommended Content:
Coronavirus | Immunization Healthcare
A nurse at Walter Reed National Miitary Medical Center prepares an immunization for a WRNMMC beneficiary.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s Allergy and Immunology Service began the Drive-up Immunization Clinic on May 11 to continue to serve beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The clinic is set up outside of the main hospital building to prevent the possible spread of the novel coronavirus within the hospital.
The Drive-Up Immunization Clinic is located in the temporary tent structure in the parking lot for Building 85T north of the America Building (Building 19); and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The clinic offers all immunizations given in the indoor clinic, including PPD (purified protein derivative) testing for tuberculosis, according to Army Col. (Dr.) Brian D. Robertson, Allergy/Immunology consultant to the Surgeon General and chief of Allergy and Immunology Service at WRNMMC.
A nurse at Walter Reed National Miitary Medical Center prepares an immunization for a WRNMMC beneficiary.
“Our patients and parents of children were delaying immunizations because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When we asked parents why they were delaying immunizations, the answer was that the hospital was viewed as slightly unsafe because of the risk of COVID-19 infection. Low rates of immunizations increase the risk of disease outbreaks, especially measles and pertussis (whooping cough). Our goal is to increase our immunization rates,” Robertson stated.
Two pediatric staff and four immunization clinic staff members provide services in the clinic. “The pediatric staff are weighing and measuring children that missed these measurements in March and April because they had telemedicine well-child visits,” Robertson explained.
He encouraged parents and others to maintain their immunization health during COVID-19. “Other diseases have not gone away, and we need to keep preventing those other infections by immunizing ourselves and our children,” Robertson continued. “All screening and waiting are done in the [beneficiary’s] car. For some adults, we can deliver the vaccines in the car and the patient does not have to get out. Our immunization areas are cleaned and sterilized between patients, and staff members wear PPE [personal protective equipment] designed to protect them and the patients. All patients/parents must wear cloth or surgical masks for these appointments.”
As long as patients continue to use it, the Drive-Up Immunization Clinic will remain in operation, Robertson stated. “We are still operating our indoor clinic, and if we find that patients are not using the drive-up clinic, we will stop using it. We are also using our experience to prepare for the annual influenza vaccine drive this fall and hopefully, a COVID-19 vaccine flu drive in the future. We anticipate that both of these vaccine drives will require social distancing,” he concluded.
You also may be interested in...
Video
8/30/2019
Barbara’s son Floriann grew up with an immune dysregulation. A Uniformed Services University pathology professor, she’s experienced first hand the importance of vaccines.
Recommended Content:
Immunization Healthcare | Preventive Health | Immunizations
Policy
This Defense Health Agency-Interim Procedures Memorandum (DHA-IPM), based on the authority of References (a) and (b), and in accordance with the guidance of References (c) through (o), implementing instructions, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• This DHA-IPM cancels and reissues DHA-IPM 18-005.
• This DHA-IPM is effective immediately and will expire 12 months from the date of issue.
Publication
7/25/2019
Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases - 13th Edition
Recommended Content:
Immunization Healthcare
Policy
Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures to establish a uniform DoD immunization program, in accordance with the authority in DoDD 6200.04 and DoD Instruction (DoDI) 1010.10.
Congressional Testimony
4/17/2019
S. 3159, SAC Report for FY 2019, 115-290, Pg. 207
Recommended Content:
Immunization Healthcare
Report
11/16/2018
In 2010, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) implemented the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach for developing evidence-based recommendations. Since its February 2018 meeting, ACIP has incorporated the use of Evidence to Decision or Evidence to Recommendation (EtR) frameworks into GRADE methodology.
Recommended Content:
Immunization Healthcare | Vaccine Recommendations
Report
11/16/2018
Global coverage with vaccines to prevent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and measles has remained at 84%–85% since 2010. Prioritizing countries with the highest number of unvaccinated children to implement context-specific strategies has the potential to increase immunization coverage globally.
Recommended Content:
Immunization Healthcare | Measles-Mumps-Rubella | Polio | Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis
Report
10/12/2018
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends routine vaccination by age 24 months against 14 potentially serious illnesses. In 2017, coverage with most recommended vaccines among children aged 19–35 months remained stable and high but was lower in more rural areas and among uninsured or Medicaid-insured children.
Recommended Content:
Immunization Healthcare | Vaccine-Preventable Diseases | Vaccine Schedules
Report
10/12/2018
Immunization programs conduct annual kindergarten vaccination assessments to monitor school-entry vaccination coverage for all state-required vaccines. Median vaccination coverage was 94.3% for 2 doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; 95.1% for the state-required number of doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine; and 93.8% for 2 doses of varicella vaccine.
Recommended Content:
Immunization Healthcare | Vaccine-Preventable Diseases | Vaccine Schedules
Showing results 376 - 390
Page 26 of 29