International Journal of Healthcare Simulation

Background:

The COVID-19 vaccine hubs required rapid implantation. While organizations had plans as part of the emergency resilience response to the community, there were particular challenges for setting up and running vaccine hubs for COVID-19 that Human Factors and Ergonomic practices could help to identify and address prior to opening as a vaccine hub.

Aims:

The aim of the study was to assist with understanding the abilities of vaccinators and design of processes for the vaccine service at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust.

Method:

Simulation, observation, semi-structured interviews and Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) were used to understand the complexity of the vaccinator role and potential challenges for the implementation of the vaccine service. This was then used in identifying an area that could meet the capacity requirements identified and to help design the process and flow through the vaccine hub.

Results:

The work undertaken was used to identify and design the processes required to deliver the vaccine service. This in turn helped to identify the space required and, due to changes in practice following potential reactions to the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine ^[1], develop the process within the identified footprint. The process developed went into operation in late December and ran largely as designed throughout its operating life delivering first and second dose vaccines to trust staff and the wider keyworker community while community sites were identified and developed for mass vaccine hubs.

Implications for practice:

Using simulation and HFE processes as part of a collaborative process with staff trained with these skills can help to design safer, more effective processes in healthcare.