DENVER — Mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics are part Colorado's strategy to immunize as many people as possible as quickly as possible. UC Health is testing the model this weekend with plans to vaccinate ten-thousand people at a drive through clinic in a parking lot at Coors Field. “This weekend we will vaccinate 10,000 patients and deliver 10,000 vaccines," said UC Health Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Richard Zane. The plan is to give 5,000 vaccines Saturday and another 5,000 Sunday.
A pilot vaccination day happened at the location a few days back to try out the system. "Able to vaccinate a thousand people in just under two hours," said Zane. There were only minor adjustments, like moving some traffic cones for better traffic flow.
The drive through clinic is by appointment. Coloradans over the age of 70 who have signed up with UC Health will get an invitation to fill one of the appointment slots. The majority of patients will likely be from the Denver area. If someone from other communities like Colorado Springs or Pueblo gets an invite, they can choose to show or pick another option for getting immunized.
Bigger picture is a secondary part of the event. UC Health is working with Colorado Public Health on a playbook of sorts for potential mass vaccination events in other communities. "So that anybody can look at the way in which we delivered this large scale drive through vaccination and if they want to reproduce it, use our lessons learned, use our resources."
