ANDERSON, IN - On November 4th, the Madison County Health Department in Indiana set up two DRASH Shelters as part of a drive-thru H1N1 vaccination clinic. 

Thousands of local residents flocked to the clinic, which was held at Hoosier Park in Anderson between 5:00 and 10:00 PM. Once there, patients drove through three separate stations to complete paperwork and receive their vaccinations.

Workers collected and processed forms inside a DRASH C Shelter. At the next station, nurses administered vaccinations from a DRASH 3XB Shelter.

Because Indiana holds its counties responsible for the proper distribution of the H1N1 vaccine, several counties across the state have already held vaccination clinics this flu season. Health officials from Madison County ultimately chose to hold a drive-thru clinic, however, to help prevent further spread of the virus. 

“During a pandemic, the last thing we want to do is bring a large group of people together indoors where they can easily transmit the virus. This was a way to keep people separated while still ensuring they can receive their vaccine,” says Madison County Public Health Coordinator Stephanie Grimes.

“And because the shelters were heated and protected against the elements, they provided our health personnel with a more comfortable workspace.”

The Madison County Health Department first purchased their DRASH equipment earlier this year as a back-up facility to use in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. Grimes says that the current H1N1 outbreak has proven that the shelters’ flexible design can easily be used for various applications. 

“We originally purchased the shelters to act as an alternate site from which we can perform our central services if something ever happens to our building,” she explains. “But over time, we’ve found that we can use the shelters for several scenarios, such as mass immunization.”

With nearly 2,000 vaccinations distributed at the drive thru clinic, patients were able to receive their vaccine in less than 20 minutes.