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As the sun set on a warm and windy May night, so did the COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Sanford Imagenetics.
Once the COVID-19 vaccines have received the A-OK by the CDC, Sanford Health immediately worked to open a mass vaccination clinic dedicated solely to gunfire in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Since the doors opened on December 15, 2020 and closed on May 27, 2021, the clinic has administered 101,705 COVID-19 vaccines. It’s a remarkable achievement, but the phrase “a lot of hands do light work” certainly applies.
Need for dedicated staff
To be successful in an ongoing event of this magnitude, many roles had to be played. Patients had to be registered and registered, vaccines had to be assigned, stored, prepared and administered. Further patient planning also needed to be done.
But, all of Sanford Health’s needs were met with enthusiasm.
Paula Mofle was a Patient Access Supervisor for the clinic, helping to register all patients. She said it was a lot of work, as you can probably imagine, “but it didn’t look like work at all.”
“I took a lot of shifts on Saturday morning at 6:30 am. Would most people do this? Probably not, but it’s something I felt good to do, ”she said.
Related: Sanford Bismarck Offers COVID-19 Vaccine Events
She wasn’t the only one taking as many shifts as possible.
Retired licensed practical nurse and current PRN nurse Toni Halverson worked three days a week administering COVID-19 vaccines. She decided to work as much as possible because she wanted to play her part in defeating COVID.
“It was really a way for our society to come together, get out of their homes and mingle again. Even my own family, we weren’t able to get together much, ”she said.
However, they may have ended up at the COVID clinic. Why? Because grandmother had to take care of her family.
“I have two daughters who live in Sioux Falls. They are married and they have children. So as the age group (vaccination) got smaller, I was able to vaccinate my whole family.
“My husband, my sons-in-law, my daughters, my grandchildren – it was amazing,” she recalls.
Camaraderie amid COVID vaccinations
When asked what they would remember the most from the experience, the two responded “connection”. Connection not only to their colleagues, but to patients.
“It’s interesting, but a lot of people wanted to have their picture taken while they were getting their vaccine. And, it was a fun time. We made it fun for them.
“Recently I went to a funeral and two people at the funeral came up to me and said, ‘You gave me my COVID vaccine at Imagenetics’, and they showed me a picture of me being give them their vaccines. It was fun because I didn’t even know them, but they remembered me, ”said Halverson.
Also: As delta variant of COVID-19 emerges, vaccine proves effectiveness
Pharmacogenetic pharmacist Kristen Jacobsen, who helped prepare the vaccines, said the camaraderie and natural friendships made the work process easier.
“It’s really a team effort. We were specifically involved in the manufacture of the vaccines, but we were also able to help answer questions from patients and even providers.
“We have been able to build and develop many relationships between other disciplines. Nurses, planners, it was really a very cohesive team effort. It couldn’t have worked otherwise, ”she said.
Bittersweet end for a career nurse
After friendships are formed and lives saved, it’s a bittersweet end to a special accomplishment.
If you ask Toni Halverson, there’s no better way out.
“I have been a nurse for about 52 years. It’s a job I’ve always loved. It was a great way for me to end my nursing career. I’m ready to retire again, and it’s a great way out.
Here are the clinic’s final statistics:
- 101,705 vaccines
- 52,019 patients
- 37,813 staff hours worked at the Imagenetics clinic
- 690 employees
- 12 pharmacists
- Pharmacy staff worked over 7,500 hours
- Volunteers worked over 1,000 hours
- Valet staff worked over 700 hours
The end of the COVID-19 clinic does not mean the end of vaccinations. If you are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you can still make an appointment or visit any primary care clinic in the communities of Sanford.
Learn more
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Coronavirus, Vaccinations
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