Feasibility of a Novel Combination of Influenza Vaccinations and Child Passenger Safety Seat Fittings in a Drive-through Clinic Setting

Abstract

Objective

Public health preparedness is an ever-evolving area of medicine with the purpose of helping the masses quickly and efficiently. The drive-through clinic (DTC) model allows the distribution of supplies or services while participants remain in their cars. Influenza vaccination is the most common form of DTC and has been utilized successfully in metropolitan areas.

Methods

We hypothesized that combining influenza vaccinations and child passenger seat fittings in a DTC format would be both feasible and desired by the community. Each driver was verbally surveyed at each DTC station. The project was a combination of patient survey and observation.

Results

In the inaugural 6-hour DTC session, 86 cars were served and contained 161 children, of which 28 also participated in child passenger seat fittings. The median total clinic time regardless of services rendered was 9.0 minutes (interquartile range [IQR]: 6.0, 14.0 minutes). For those who received only an influenza vaccine, the median total time was 7.5 minutes (IQR: 6.0, 10.0 minutes). For those who received both services, the median total time was 27 minutes (IQR: 22.3, 33.5 minutes) with an average of 1.75 child passenger seat fittings per automobile.

Conclusion

This was a pilot study involving 2 different services using the DTC model and the first of its kind in the literature. The DTC was successful in executing both services without sacrificing speed, convenience, or patient satisfaction. Additional studies are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of the multiple-service DTC model. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:647–651)