LECOM Health to Deploy Mobile Vaccination Clinics

The best way to mobilize an unprecedented vaccination effort could be giving it wheels. 

On Friday, Jan. 29, LECOM Health announced its plans to do just that with the purchase of a new mobile vaccination unit through Aardvark Mobile Health. The unit will distribute COVID-19 vaccines at various pop-up clinics throughout Erie County in accordance with both dosage availability and the Pennsylvania Department of Health's phased vaccine distribution schedule. Appointments at an upcoming clinic can be scheduled one of three ways:

1. Online at lecom.eventbrite.com
2. By phone at 1-866-LECOM19
3. By email at vaccineinfo@lecomslc.org

The vehicle can vaccinate multiple individuals at once and is designed for quick setup (within 15 minutes) and easy sterilization. It is equipped with a number of safety features for compliance with Biosafety Level 2 (protections against moderate-risk diseases) as established by the CDC, including:

• A biological safety cabinet for containment of sprays/aerosols
• Autoclave or alternative sterilization/disposal method
• Self-closing lockable doors
• Sink/eyewash station
• Switchability between a positive and negative air pressure environment — the former is used to prevent outside air from entering the space (and any contaminants it may carry), while the latter uses filtered outside air to keep any potential contaminants contained within a space the air pushes inward.

Coronavirus vaccines will be available at no cost. 

Matt Swanseger can be reached at mswanseger@eriereader.com