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Hosting a vaccination clinic?

  • 1.  Hosting a vaccination clinic?

    Posted 08-13-2021 07:33 AM
    Do any of you have advice on hosting a vaccination clinic in a small rural area?  

    There is a veterinarian in this town so rabies is an option as well, but wasn't sure the best place to start as far as purchasing vaccines, marketing, etc.  I am a third party that will be helping get this started and want to offer any advice I can to the small city shelter wanting to host this event.


    #AccesstoCare
    #FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
    #Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
    #PetSupportServices*
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    Lauren Cline
    Saving Grace Pit Bull Rescue
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    #Clinic
    #vaccination
    #rural
    #rabies
    #vet
    ​​​​​​​​​


  • 2.  RE: Hosting a vaccination clinic?

    Posted 08-13-2021 09:12 AM
    Hi Lauren, I might be able to help you. I've been holding free-to-low cost vaccinations clinics in my city for the last six years. Were you planning to just provide basic vaccinations like Rabies, Da2pp, microchips, etc.? How many pets were you hoping to serve? Feel free to reply here or if you'd rather, you can email me at MelissaH@AnimalHumaneNM.org and we can chat more.

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    melissa hubbell
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  • 3.  RE: Hosting a vaccination clinic?

    Posted 08-13-2021 10:06 AM
    Thank you so much for your response.  Probably 100 pets is my hope.  I'm not the main person putting it on but was asked for help and advice so trying to help guide on where to begin.

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    Lauren Cline
    Saving Grace Pit Bull Rescue
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  • 4.  RE: Hosting a vaccination clinic?

    Posted 08-13-2021 10:32 AM
      |   view attached
    I am the Executive Director for Northeast Arkansans for Animals (NAFA Rescue).  We have been sponsoring monthly low cost vaccination clinics since 2006 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, except during 2020 and we only held 4 clinics then.

    We have had two or three veterinarians through 15 years.  We pay the veterinarian, but everyone else is a volunteer.  Our first few years we only saw 20 to 30 people a month.  Now we average at lease 125 to 175 dogs and cats per month.   We charge $10 each for Rabies, 5 in 1, Bordetella and 3 in 1 for cats.  We also offer heartworm testing for $10.  Our state requires rabies vaccinations so there are no qualifications for rabies only.  For all other vaccinations and heartworm test they must be low income, disabled, unemployed, elderly,  US veteran or active Military in the family, ASU university student or a rescue animal.  They may not have seen a veterinarian clinic for vaccinations in the past 12 months (except low cost clinics).  Everyone most get a rabies vaccination unless they can bring a certificate dated within the past 11 months.  Everyone receives a rabies tag, certificate and receipt showing the vaccinations/services they received.

    Individuals can order Nexgard, Tri-Heart Plus and Advantage Multi and starting this month Revolt.  They order the day of the shot clinic and pick the meds up the following week.

    NAFA Rescue does not have a shelter.  We partner with the local animal control department and for years had the clinics there.  However, we out grew the facility and now have access to a community building once a month.   It currently takes 11 volunteers, plus the vet to get this done in our four hour window.  

    It is definitely not a fundraising activity, but it provides a community service that is unimaginable for the pets and people who love them, but can not afford veterinarian clinic prices.  We do recommend that individuals coming to the clinics to get a regular vet, but very few of them can.  We have people pay in change, one dollar bills and occasionally we will take kittens or puppies in exchange for the mothers getting vaccinated at no charge.  We also offer information on low cost spay/neuter.

    Hope this helps.  If you have more questions or need more details, please email nafahelp@gmail.com

    Wannda Turner

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    Ella Turner
    NAFA Board
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  • 5.  RE: Hosting a vaccination clinic?

    Posted 08-13-2021 11:53 AM
    Would you both be ok if I shared your emails to the head person putting this on?

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    Lauren Cline
    Saving Grace Pit Bull Rescue
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  • 6.  RE: Hosting a vaccination clinic?

    Posted 08-13-2021 02:03 PM
    Yes.  You may share it with whomever needs it.

    Wannda Turner
    nafahelp@gmail.com

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    Ella Turner
    NAFA Board
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  • 7.  RE: Hosting a vaccination clinic?

    Posted 08-14-2021 02:19 PM
    Yes! Of course. Sorry if this is a double post. I just wrote a big, long response and now I can't find it. :( My contact information is MelissaH@AnimalHumaneNM.org and my direct line is 505-938-7892.  I've learned a lot by trial and error and lots of mistakes but I feel like I'm pretty confident in managing the clinics now. Just to give her some more information - pre-COVID, we held clinics about 5 times a year and served around 150-200 pets with three veterinarians. This was a first come, first served model and pet parents often waited for services 2-4 hours.  They'd wait in line, pay, receive paperwork to fill out and be given a number. The number "confirmed" they'd be able to be seen by the vet & also gave them freedom to get out of line and spread out. We usually stopped taking new pet owners around the 175 park because we didn't want anyone to wait & then not be able to be served (we'd eventually dwindle in supplies).  This model was fine but had it's set of issues (mostly pet owners having to wait a long time to be served, etc.) Since COVID, we've used Acuity Scheduling to make appointments pre-event.  Instead of waiting hours, most clients wait about 5-10 minutes. We also have them wait in their vehicle and there's less loose pets & potential dog fights. For both of these models, we charge $10 per pet as an "entry fee." This is a personal preference because I've found many people know their pet needs vaccinations but don't know exactly which one's they need. The entry fee covers everything, whether you're getting all of them (da2pp, Rabies & a microchip) or just one.  The cost would be VERY affordable if we didn't purchase microchips (we pay$9.99 at cost/chip).  Luckily, we had a private funder purchase those for us so it doesn't cost much to put these on. Most everyone, including the veterinarians are volunteers (except a few key staff members).

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    melissa hubbell
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  • 8.  RE: Hosting a vaccination clinic?

    Posted 08-15-2021 01:24 PM
    Thank you for the detailed information and time.  I have passed your contact information on.

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    Lauren Cline
    Saving Grace Pit Bull Rescue
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  • 9.  RE: Hosting a vaccination clinic?

    Posted 08-14-2021 07:49 PM