Implementation of a Drive-Through COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Site: Experiences from LouVax–Broadbent in Louisville, Kentucky

Background: Response to the COVID-19 pandemic has required innovative approaches to vaccination, including methods to rapidly and safely immunize communities. A major challenge to such a response involved access to untapped healthcare worker resources. The Louisville, Kentucky, response involved the use of a large volunteer workforce to supplement local public health employees in planning and implementing a large-scale drive-through vaccination event. The objective of this manuscript was to outline processes involved in training a mass immunization workforce and implementating a large-scale COVID-19 community vaccination. Approach: Competency-based and standardized training was provided for every volunteer before working their shift. Volunteers worked four-hour shifts, and training sessions were held at the beginning of every shift. Training included three overarching goals with associated procedures: to protect the vaccine supply, protect the individuals being vaccinated, and protect the healthcare workforce during a 17-week large-scale community drive-through vaccination campaign. Results: Between January 4, 2021, and April 28, 2021, LouVax–Broadbent was open for operation for 82 days. A total of 109,529 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered at LouVax–Broadbent; 2,561 volunteers served the community at LouVax–Broadbent, yielding approximately 81,200 volunteer hours. Three needlestick injuries were reported, all of which occurred during safety device activation. Procedures that served to protect the vaccine resulted in a waste of 132 (0.12%) of the 109,529 prepared doses. Conclusions: Vaccination rate outcomes at LouVax–Broadbent demonstrated an ability to engage, train, and safely implement a large and dedicated group of volunteer healthcare and non-healthcare workers as part of a large-scale community mass COVID-19 drive-through vaccination event.