‘Time goes pretty quick here’;
2 patients are scheduled every
10 minutes to receive a shot
“Thank you so much for your time,” the woman told them as she walked out.
Wells, a registered nurse, and Laska, a licensed practical nurse, are COVID-19 vaccinators for NorthShore Health Centers, which hosts five vaccination sites across the area through the Indiana State Department of Health.
Two weeks ago, NorthShore began administering the vaccine to eligible recipients, mostly to Hoosiers 70 and older. The health system distributes the Moderna vaccine, in two doses, which
On Monday, Indiana lowered the age of eligible recipients from 70 to 65, allowing this population of recipients to make appointments for their shot at immunization.
Both vaccines are up to 94% effective with two doses given, studies show. The NorthShore clinics and the other 255 sites across the state will soon become busier.
“We should be ready,” said Tricia Hall, NorthShore’s director of patient relations. “It’s been a quick turnaround over the past two weeks. All of our staff has come together to do whatever they can to get this new operation rolling.”
Northwest Indiana has more than two dozen vaccination sites located inside health departments, clinics, hospitals and retail pharmacies. NorthShore has vaccination sites in Hammond, Merrillville, Lake Station, Chesterton and Portage, with up to 40 of its 300 employees staffing these sites, administering 2,000 vaccinations each week.
“You normally don’t see hundreds of patients who are all happy when they leave a medical clinic. But we have here,” Laska said as she emptied another vaccine vial into a syringe.
“Some of these people just want to talk. It’s the first socialization they’ve had in months,” said Wells, a clinical manager at the Portage clinic.
I visited the clinic Friday to watch these interactions and to talk with vaccinators who give shot after shot day after day; two patients are scheduled every 10 minutes.
“Time goes pretty quick here,” Laska said in between patients.
“We don’t want to rush anyone who has questions or concerns,” Wells said.
A steady line of patients trickled in to the clinic for scheduled appointments, most of them relieved to finally get their first vaccine shot.
Others who were encouraged by their adult children.
“My daughter
All 50 states have lodged complaints with the federal government over supply and delivery problems, leading to vaccine shortages, vaccine envy and emerging vaccine disparities. Less than 10% of Americans have been vaccinated, according to federal data.
A new poll conducted by Kaiser Family Foundation shows that more Americans are interested in receiving the free vaccine, nearly 50% in January, compared to 34% in December. It’s human nature to have a wait-and-see attitude about this new, fast-tracked vaccine, with politics also playing a factor for some people’s reluctance.
“We’re seeing most patients show up at their appointment time,” said Alaina Albanese, NorthShore’s chief quality officer.
Unscheduled walk-in patients are not allowed, but it’s not uncommon for people to show up anyway, hoping to get the vaccine. There have been lucky recipients who feel they’ve hit the “vaccine lottery” by being at the right spot at the right time to get a shot they didn’t expect to receive so soon. Some of these people were near a vaccination clinic at closing time when leftover shots were available. Health experts agree that getting a dose into anyone’s body is better than throwing it away.
Each vaccine vial, containing 10 to 11 shots, must be used by the end of each day. Any extra doses, so far, at the NorthShore clinics have been offered to patients’ spouses who didn’t make an appointment. The clinic’s waiting list hasn’t been used very often.
On the second floor of the Portage clinic, inside a former conference room, registrars and fact sheets greet incoming patients. Vaccine ingredients are listed on a fact sheet, but most layman recipients would need to Google each item.
“Most ingredients in this vaccine are frequently found in the human body, so we haven’t seen any allergic reactions yet,” said Albanese, who’s also a pharmacist.
A patient consent form states: “I have had the opportunity to have all my questions addressed before receiving the vaccine.”
Answering questions from patients is one of the primary roles for vaccinators. “Most people ask about possible side effects,” Wells said.
“We try to put them at ease.”
The traditional exchange in an exam room between a nurse and patient is more accelerated with these COVID-19 vaccinations. A fever check, a few standard questions, a few answers, a shot in the arm, and on to the next patient. (Watch a video on my Facebook page.)
“It’s all in fast mode,” Albanese said. “However, it’s a rewarding experience for vaccinators. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback. A couple of patients asked to take a selfie with their vaccinator.”
NorthShore is hiring for more vaccinators and registrars, similar to the Lake County Health Department’s recent hiring announcement for its vaccination sites.
In Indiana, more than 560,000 vaccines have been administered, according to ISDH spokesperson Megan Wade-Taxter. Find a list of vaccination sites and updated numbers on the ISDH dashboard at
At NorthShore, most patients are older with time on their hands, so they show up early for their shot in the arm. Will the same hold true for younger generations when they become eligible? Or will they show up late, if at all?
“We’re curious too,” Hall said.
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