Drive-through pediatric vaccine clinic planned for Oct. 3
With the health and safety of patients in mind, a drive-through vaccination clinic for USA Health pediatric patients is planned for Saturday, Oct. 3, in the parking lot of Strada Patient Care Center. Staff members from the COVID-19 testing site staff will work in partnership with members of the pediatrics staff to conveniently provide vaccines to children from 8 a.m. until noon.
As the COVID-19 global pandemic continues, thousands of children nationwide have not remained up-to-date on needed vaccines to prevent childhood diseases.
“We are very excited to see this project come to life,” said Sarah Kahalley, MSHA, BSN, RN, director of clinical resources for USA Health physicians. “We think this is the beginning of a new style of innovative health care we can deliver to our patients. Through the COVID-19 drive-through testing site, we demonstrated success with providing a much-needed service to the community with the added convenience of not having to leave your car.”
Since April, 2020, more than 16,000 patients have been tested for COVID-19 at two drive-through testing sites operated by USA Health in partnership with the City of Mobile. The current site is inside the seven-story Mobile Civic Center arena in downtown Mobile.
In coming months, plans call for the COVID-19 testing staff to partner with other USA Health departments to provide other healthcare services using the drive-through model.
For the October pediatric clinic, appointments will be scheduled ahead of time for established pediatric patients with USA Health who have been identified as not current on vaccines, said Bradley Cross, director of operations for USA Health Pediatrics. No COVID-19 tests will be performed at the pediatric drive-through clinic, he said.
By law, most children attending public and private schools, Alabama day cares and Head Start programs, must have an immunization certificate -- also known as a blue card -- showing that vaccines are up-to-date.
In Alabama, vaccines are required to prevent measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and polio. It’s recommended that children age 11 and older also be vaccinated against HPV, the human papilloma virus.
Appointments for current USA Health patients may be made by calling USA Health Pediatrics at (251) 410-5437.
