Roll Up Those Sleeves: Covid-19 Vaccine Initiative

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

2020. Pandemic. Shelter-in-place. Anticipation. 2021. Vaccine. Hope. In Brunswick County, North Carolina, 2021 began with a call to action. For Brunswick County Health Services, it was time to roll up those sleeves and get to work. For eligible residents, it was time to roll up those sleeves and get vaccinated. The Covid-19 Vaccine Initiative launched and managed the extraordinary undertaking of administering Covid-19 vaccinations. With a year-round population of approximately 145,000 residents, safe and efficient vaccine strategies were imperative to accommodate the demand of the vaccine campaign. Together with NCDHHS, Brunswick County Health Services implemented a response plan for mass vaccinations. This was a well-coordinated strategic effort with our county and community partners, including new partnerships with the NAACP, community churches, town municipalities, and local leaders. Vaccine operations were highly versatile, targeting pop-up clinics to reach marginalized populations and adapting to new demands as each group became eligible. We conducted drive-through pop-up clinics, operated a mass vaccination site, and provided homebound vaccinations to those in need. The vaccine campaign had a twofold outcome. Mass vaccinations provided individual protection and a lessened likelihood of transmission. From December 2020 through February 2021, Brunswick County Health Services has administered over 41,000 vaccinations.