Considerations in Securing Off-Site Hospital Personnel Administering the Covid-19 Vaccine

As the vaccine process expands outside the hospitals and into the community, healthcare workers will still be needed to administer the vaccine. Hospitals will be asked to set up and manage off-site vaccination sites and staff will be asked to man public venues distributing the vaccine. These sites will be public places like schools, armories, stadiums or store fronts. During this process, which could be well into 2021, protection protocols should be considered to ensure the safety and security of hospital personnel working off-site.

Given the state of society right now, it is unknown how people will react to the vaccine and its distribution after the presidential inauguration. Conspiracy theorist and extremist organization could shift priorities to focus back on the pandemic and the vaccine. Keeping this in mind, assessing risks and incorporating integrated strategies at dispensing sites for the protection of employees should be conducted.  

As site planning finalizes and locations as well as staffing needs are determined, hospital security personnel should review those proposed sites and assess the potential risks associated with the vaccine distribution site. Threats to consider include violence related to patient agitation while obtaining the vaccine, persons insisting on getting their vaccine without an appointment, and line jumpers. Theft, diversion or destruction of the vaccine and vaccine supplies from the site or when transported to and from the distribution site. Demonstrations occurring at administering sites either for or against the vaccine process. Fanatical organizations wishing to harm personnel or destroy sites by use of explosives, guns, vehicles or other mechanisms. Cyber crimes like ransomware, stolen and published vaccine patient data along with loss of the network due to sabotage. These are all potential threats that should be addressed as part of the site assessment.

To ensure the safety and security of hospital employees working at remote vaccination sites a risk assessment should be conducted addressing all potential threats and hazards. To reduce the potential for harm the following security measures should be considered as part of the mediation strategy.

• Fencing installed around the vaccination site
• Barricades to impede a vehicle from penetrating the vaccine structure
• Utilizing a single point of entry for persons obtaining the vaccines
• Equipping vaccine entry points with barriers that create a single line for entry
• A separate employee entrance located away from the vaccination entrance
• Install metal detectors to screen all persons (patients and staff) accessing the distribution site
• Install CCTV to monitor the patient entrance, employee entrance, the waiting line, the dispensing area and the entire parking lot
• Vaccine should be stored in a secure location requiring two-person authentication
• If secure storage is not possible the area should be surrounded with fencing or other physical barriers to restrict access
• Provide a safe refuge for staff in the event of an adverse event
• Consider the use of armed personnel or police to patrol or be posted at the dispensing site

Make sure staff have proper training on:

• Evacuation procedures
• Process for reporting incidents
• Active shooter prevention
• Workplace violence prevention

Make sure there are processes in place for:

• Vaccine access and its transportation
• Emergency evacuation of personnel for emergent situations
• Vaccine alternate storage sites in the event of power loss or refrigerator failure
• Inclement weather
• Personnel transportation to and from the distribution site

Access my related articles page for more information and our resource page has resources to help in the assessment process. If you need assistance figuring it all out and would like to discuss options for assessing and securing vaccine distribution sites let me know, I have resources and expertise that can assist.