3 CDSB Edmonton COVID-19 vaccine clinic up and running

May 11, 2021 - 2Lt Trevor Young, 3^rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton Public Affairs

It’s a cold spring morning at 3rd Canadian Division Support Base (3 CDSB) Edmonton. Several dozen Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) soldiers line up outside a large drill hall.

Inside, there are queues of military members waiting. Medical workers are busy shuttling boxes and bins chock full of a medical consumables and equipment. Through the hustle, there is a slow buzz of energy and anticipation. In the middle of the room sit large privacy screens – blocking the view of what’s beyond.

As each person passes through these privacy screens, to either accept or decline the vaccine, they join a group of their fellow service members while they wait their 15-minutes post-vaccination. And most will have one thing in common: a sore arm.

In late April, 3 CDSB Edmonton welcomed its first round of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, with a select number of CAF members being chosen to receive their first dose before the end of April. Although the clinic looked nearly effortless in its operation, it was the product of an incredible amount of hard work by planners from health services, the brigade and the base as well as the frontline medical staff administering the vaccine.

“Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure the facility setup, patient flow, data collection and vaccination process runs smoothly and efficiently, all while observing patient privacy and public health measures,” said Major Shellie Sullivan, Edmonton base Operation VECTOR lead planner. “We’ve had to consider how many doses we need and how to administer them in a private and confidential manner. There are many different components in maintaining the whole chain of the vaccine roll-out.”

Captain (Navy) Jeffrey Biddiscombe, Commander 1 Health Services Group in Edmonton, said extensive preparation went into getting the clinic running.

“This was, and continues to be, a massive planning effort,” he said. “There are a high number of units involved and we require the co-ordination of all of them. This is beyond the capability of just Health Services.”

However, he added that even the planning process went relatively smoothly, despite the large number of different units working on it.

“Usually, more people means more friction,” he said. “But here, everyone’s focus is on the same thing. Everyone is unified.”

This was an important goal met by the CAF. While Op VECTOR is in full swing aiding in the distribution of the vaccine to communities in need, the CAF must also prioritize the health of its own members. And, while the vaccine is not mandatory, the Forces need to be healthy and ready to act in case they are called upon to serve at home or abroad.

The vaccine clinic tested the fortitude of frontline medical workers in the Forces.

“I’ve been impressed,” said Lieutenant Tiffany Sewell, who had been administering vaccines throughout the week. “There have been small things to work out, but the practice runs were very effective in preparing us.”

There was one dominant through line, one unifying idea that coloured the perspectives of all those receiving the vaccine regardless of rank. It was the idea of a return to normalcy after a long and, at times, arduous year.