OAHHS Hospital Voice Spring/Summer 2021

20 » A magazine for and about Oregon Community Hospitals. within two weeks of that first conversation, shots were going into arms. “It was a shockingly tight timeline,” said Leonard. “Folks were on Teams calls and Zoom calls until all hours of the night, putting together different maps, thinking through everything from tents to port-a-potties, to what’s the IT system that’s needed to check in.” It was hard work, but they knew they could deliver something that had been in short supply for nearly a year: hope. At its peak of popularity, the Red Lot site was seeing over 5,000 cars every day, with a total dose count edging toward 235,000. On one day in May, over 400 vol- unteers were on site managing the flow of cars while a large group of pharmacy staffers loaded vaccine doses into syringes. It all worked with well- choreographed precision. Once people had received their shots, they waited the required 15 min- utes before they were cleared to drive away. There was even a sys- tem set up in the waiting area for continues on page 27  PDX RED LOT: THOUSANDS VACCINATED FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR CARS By Dave Northfield At the start of the vaccine rollout Oregonians were fortunate that hundreds of hard-working, inno- vative people jumped into action, working together to create sites where thousands of people would eventually receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. One such collaboration happened at the Portland International Air- port, and it started as a phone call between two old friends. Abby Tibbs and Kristen Leonard work in public affairs for OHSU and the Port of Portland. They sensed a need for a different way for area residents to access the vaccine, a drive through site where people wouldn’t need to leave their cars. “For folks who are homebound who normally wouldn’t be able to get out of their car, they have been able to come through here since it’s an entirely stay-in-your- car opportunity,” said Tibbs. Tibbs and Leonard got to talking about each organization’s assets and skills: OHSU on the pharmacy and care delivery side, and the Port for logistics and the ability to move thousands of people safely and efficiently through an area. Leonard knew that PDX had a huge parking lot that wasn’t being used and also that they would need lots of volunteers. That’s where the Red Cross came in. The seeds of what became the PDX Red Lot site were planted, and