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THREAD: I learned the nitty gritty details behind how one of the nation’s leading hospitals @DukeHospital is preparing for the vaccine and 
I am floored by the logistics. Some might find the following breakdown 
but I want to highlight the details few are thinking about.
I am floored by the logistics. Some might find the following breakdown but I want to highlight the details few are thinking about.
I’m told the biggest challenges at this point lie in uncertainty around supply, which is of course central to the planning. When will the supply arrive? How many doses will be allocated to Duke? How often will they receive more? No answers yet just weeks away from the first shots
They need this info ASAP for several reasons: 1) Ensuring there are enough materials like needles, syringes, and sharps containers. They’re using those for flu vaccination now and need to make sure the stockpile is big enough for COVID vax too
2) Once the vaccine leaves the freezer the CLOCK IS TICKING. It can only live in the fridge for a few days, and once a vial is open the 5 doses inside need to get in arms immediately. So the vaccination schedule needs to be planned to the MINUTE.
3) And they need to decide...who gets it first? Based on CDC guidelines, Duke has a list of 5,000 frontline workers eligible to go first. But what if the first allocation they get is 500 doses? Who is on THAT list? Those tough conversations are happening now.
Lastly and most importantly... STAFF. With record hospitalizations most healthcare workers are caring for COVID patients. They need to bring on more people for the vaccination effort. Duke is looking at all options, including bringing nurses out of retirement to help.
Despite all the logistical hurdles (and there are many more)...the sense of HOPE here was palpable. This room is where the vaccinations will happen in just a couple weeks (
) Not much to see yet... but the excitement from staff about these simple tables and chairs says it all
) Not much to see yet... but the excitement from staff about these simple tables and chairs says it all
