Naval Health Clinic Oak Harbor COVID-19 Pop-up Clinics Aim to Increase Vaccinations among Whidbey Island's TRICARE Community

Photo By Patricia Rose | Chief Petty Officer Danny Williams explains the process to those eagerly awaiting their COVID-19 vaccination.  

OAK HARBOR, WA, UNITED STATES

05.24.2021

Story by Patricia Rose 

Naval Health Clinic Oak Harbor

Oak Harbor, WA - As COVID-19 vaccination supply outpaces demand on Whidbey Island, Naval Health Clinic Oak Harbor (NHCOH) offered a new opportunity to meet people where they are at and administer more doses.

On 21-23 May, a NHCOH team of medical professionals gathered in the parking lot of the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Navy Exchange in Oak Harbor. The weekend mass vaccination effort – called a shot-exercise, or SHOTEX – was specifically designed to safely administer the vaccine to as many as possible during that 3-day period.

Public Health Officer, Cmdr. Amanda Schaffeld is spearheading NHCOH’s
vaccination campaign. “We provide coordination and observation of the
workflow to ensure safe and efficient vaccination. We are there to respond to any medical emergencies that may arise during these evolutions and serve as a subject matter expert for times in which participants may have questions or concerns in regard to vaccination,” explained Schaffeld. “There are a lot of people who it's been harder for them to get to vaccination sites, or they have some hesitancy or work barriers, and we want to make it as easy as possible," said Schaffeld.

TRICARE eligible beneficiaries were able to get their first dose of the
Moderna vaccine and be signed-up for the second dose at the same time.
Those needing just their second dose were able to walk away with the
knowledge that in just two weeks, they would be maximally protected from COVID-19.

There are a lot of unknowns, misinformation, and fear surrounding the
vaccines which, often times, can be mitigated by providing accurate
information. Addressing fears and concerns around the vaccine, is always a big part of an effort like this. Everyone on the team was well skilled to
explain exactly what was about to take place, where to go, where to wait, and what to do.

The duty of those involved in supporting the COVID-19 vaccination efforts
are twofold. First, ensure that vaccines get into arms safely and efficiently. Second, provide education to participants about the vaccines in order address their concerns and increase their confidence in immunization. This helps propagate the spread of truthful information and trust in the vaccines.

For several months now, NHCOH has followed the Department of Defense
distribution plan for administering the vaccine. In conjunction with the
CDC, military medical treatment facilities like NHCOH used a prioritized,
phased approach to provide the vaccine for all active duty and reserve
components, TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select beneficiaries, and select DoD civilians and contract personnel authorized to receive immunizations from DoD.

At the conclusion of the weekend, 260 doses had been administered. NHCOH commanding officer, Capt. Steven Kewish, said he had no expectations for the event. "Vaccination is a critical component to getting our lives back to normal. Those 260 vaccinations show that when we meet people where they are, we will find new, unvaccinated folks. Each new person vaccinated is a victory," said Kewish.

• Date Taken: 05.24.2021
• Date Posted: 05.24.2021 16:06
• Story ID: 397259
• Location: OAK HARBOR, WA, US