Article wrote by Sara Davis for The Carlisle Citizen.

In Iowa, the first wave of COVID-19 vaccinations included those age 65 andolder. Not everyone age 65 and older are familiarwith or have access to email and the internet, which are usually needed to sign up to receive a COVID vaccine. To help Carlisle’s aging population, the Carlisle Public Library has helped many of Carlisle’s residents sign up to get their first dose of the COVID vaccine.

On February 26th, Pamela Goode, pharmacist at Carlisle’s Medicap Pharmacy, had mentioned to Stacy Goodhue, the Carlisle Public Library director, how she needed to quickly administer 90 second doses of the Moderna vaccine to Carlisle residents.

“When she told me she needed to get shots to 90 people I said there was no way to get that done at the pharmacy in one day!” said Stacy. “I asked her about a drive thru option, as I remembered that COVID testing was drive thru for many places. I said if the testing and even a Fire Department Pancake Breakfast can be done in a drive thru, then surely we can do vaccines in a drive thru!”

Before that weekend was over, Pamela and Stacy, with the help of the Carlisle Police Department, the Carlisle Fire & Rescue Department, and City of Carlisle staff, had planned out every detail to hold a two-hour COVID vaccination drive thru clinic on March 1st.

The plan, which ended up being fast, efficient, and wildly successful, had patients pull up to the corner of 2nd Street and Main Street where library staff checked them in. Patients then pulled up in front of the Carlisle Fire & Rescue Department to have their second COVID vaccination given by Medicap Pharmacy staff. After receiving their vaccination, patients would pull forward to Carlisle Mayor Drew Merrified, who put a sticker on the patient’s COVID vaccination card to show they’d received their second vaccine dose. After having their card completed, patients pulled forward to the library where they were monitored for side effects from the vaccine by EMTs from the Carlisle Fire & Rescue Department. Carlisle’s police officers, city staff, and even a city council member ensured traffic flowed smoothly and filled in as needed. The drive thru clinic ended up administering over 80 vaccinations within the two hours.

“It was very successful and we are so happy we were able to help so many people in our community,” said Stacy. “We are exploring options for more drive thru vaccine clinics so hopefully there is more information to come!”