Mass Vaccination for All: Increasing Inclusivity of Point of Dispensing Plans in New Orleans.

Abstract

Introduction:In January 2021, the State of Louisiana approved COVID-19 vaccine distribution to elderly and immunocompromised persons. From annual hurricane planning assessments, the city of New Orleans recognized medical and transportation barriers would prevent some eligible residents from accessing vaccines at public point of dispensing (POD) sites. A new vaccine distribution system was needed for homebound individuals and their caregivers. By February, the city developed and implemented a homebound vaccination plan under the direction of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) and the New Orleans Health Department. This presentation will review this vaccine distribution model and the opportunities and challenges identified in maintaining this model for future medical POD interventions.Method:The City of New Orleans, along with news outlets and service providers, instructed homebound residents and caregivers to self-identify their need for a homebound vaccine by calling 311 and adding their name to a centralized waitlist. NOEMS/NOHD staff would schedule appointments based on resident and provider availability and geography of their home residence. Two 2-person teams were deployed simultaneously to provide ten doses within a five-hour time frame to minimize waste. Each deployment team included one city employee with an EMS certification and one volunteer, along with a cooler, ancillary supplies, registration form, and educational sheet to complete the appointment.Results:350 homebound residents and caregivers were vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine from February 2021 to January 2022. Vaccine doses were rarely wasted due to the availability of a centralized city-wide vaccine request list.Conclusion:The COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in mass dispensing plans and procedures. This local plan, created in haste to meet community need, became a model practice for other Parishes within the State of Louisiana and nationwide. This distribution modality needs to be maintained and tested, in addition to traditional POD sites, to be utilized in future dispensing events.