(Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM file photo)

By Lara Fominoff/CKOM News

Provinces, territories across Canada looking at Sask. drive-thru model

May 17, 2021 | 7:42 PM

Over the past several months, tens of thousands of Saskatchewanians have received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at one of 20 drive-thru clinics in the province.

In fact, they’ve proven so successful — according to Sheila Anderson, the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s emergency operations centre vaccine chief — other provinces want to learn how it’s being done.

“An operational team in Regina presented to our Alberta colleagues … and this really walked through the real guts of our drive-thru, so some of those things you should consider as you stand up a drive-thru and just really how the flow works and the function of the drive-thru,” she explained.

Another high-level model presentation was made to a federal summit where provincial and territorial leaders gathered for those involved in vaccination and pandemic planning.

Anderson said a lot has gone into their planning and efficient execution. The model for them was basically taken from the large-scale testing sites in Saskatoon and Regina and adapted, after initially trying it out at smaller-scale locations in the province when immunizations began in late 2020 and early 2021.

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“We took the concept of coming through for a COVID test and we just overlaid what we would need to deliver a vaccine. You know, it’s a bit more complex as you need more infrastructure like fridges and freezers to ensure that we have that cold chain maintained,” she added.

Keeping the massive drive-thru locations in Regina and Saskatoon running efficiently also takes a lot of co-ordination and communication, to ensure all working parts are moving quickly, safely and efficiently, she said.

“We really have to keep our eye on the wait times. So the wait times (and) how many people are in line give us an understanding of our demand,” she said. “And then that really is signalled back to our nurses that are working and are responsible for vaccine management and the cold chain.”

Vaccines are being taken out of freezers and fridges just in time to meet the demand.

Then there’s also managing the lines of traffic, each separate station and the parking area after vaccinations are completed. With immunizers, clinic co-ordinators, vaccine co-ordinators, support workers, traffic controllers and EMS, there could be 35 or more people running one of the large clinics on any given day.

Another big part of the success is the work done with community partners like Evraz Place and the Regina Exhibition Association Limited as well as Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park.

As of May 5, there were 77,973 COVID-19 vaccine doses provided to residents at drive-thru locations across the province.

Anderson says it’s an unprecedented vaccination program undertaken in Saskatchewan, and the drive-thrus will continue to operate as vaccines are available for first and second doses.

“We will be offering it for people who received their first dose …,” she said. “And if you haven’t received your first dose, you certainly can for your second dose.”

While the Regina and Saskatoon locations are currently closed, they’re expected to reopen on Wednesday. More information on drive-thru and walk-in clinics is available on the SHA’s website.