The view through the window: characterizing participants in a drive-through influenza vaccination clinic

The participants in a 2011 drive-through influenza vaccination clinic were described.

The descriptive, cross-sectional study used a pen-and-paper survey administered during a drive-through vaccination program. A total of 1114 surveys were collected that included demographic information and responses to 3 clinic usage questions; responses were in English or Spanish. The responses were stratified by language and age group, and zip codes reported by the participants were mapped.

The majority of the participants were women (57%) aged 41 to 64 years old (53%). The participation by people younger than 18 and older than 65 years was relatively low. When compared by language, the surveys completed in Spanish showed a significantly different proportion of age group participation than those completed in English. Many participants (23%) indicated that they likely would not have received a vaccine elsewhere if the clinic were not available. A map of the zip codes showed that the clinic served people from the city and surrounding communities and counties.

The operators of vaccine clinics can use these findings to improve outreach to populations of concern, and encourage multiple venues, both traditional and nontraditional, to maximize immunization coverage in their community.