Mass Dispensing Drill a Success

CURTIS D. MENARD SPORTS COMPLEX, WASILLA -- The excitement was in the air in the volunteer room at 1pm today. 14 Alaska public health nurses including two UAA nursing students, over 35 volunteers, and three therapy dogs with their handlers participated in the event. Set up as it would be in the event of an emergency there were color coded vests to identify the groups of volunteers: triage, dispensing, support, and safety. A few early birds started a line at 1 o’clock to be the first to get a free second varicella (chickenpox)vaccination required by Alaska law as of July 1, 2009. At 1:25 p.m. the trickle of nervous students and thrifty parents numbered in the 60’s. At 2 p.m. the drill officially began and 392 people were waiting in the lobby of the sports complex.

“Didn’t hurt a bit,” said the first young man to leave the check-out station. The process for the first few to get the vaccinations was quick. Four minutes from check-in to check-out. Others who arrived at 2pm waited 45 minutes to reach the check-in table, but even then it was a quick process – 7 minutes. The drill continues until 8:00 p.m. this evening.