Steuben County Public Health has introduced a new mobile vaccination van to bring essential health services to its remote and rural communities. This initiative aims to enhance accessibility to healthcare for residents in areas outside the cities of Corning, Hornell, and Bath.
The mobile unit, comparable in size to a food truck, will travel across Steuben County, which spans nearly 1,400 square miles—larger than the state of Rhode Island, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
The van will host pop-up clinics offering a range of immunizations, including those for school-aged children, flu, hepatitis A and B, tetanus, and COVID-19. It will also carry Narcan, a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.
Public Health Director Darlene Smith expressed enthusiasm for the van’s deployment. “COVID was a very busy, stressful, trying time for everyone,” said Smith. “But because of all the PODS (Point of Dispensing) and the clinics, testing, and vaccinations we provided, we realized the need to be more mobile and independent than we were during the pandemic.”
The van features two nursing stations, ample storage, electric and USB outlets, a generator, and a refrigerator to ensure vaccines are kept at the correct temperature. The county purchased the van for $212,000 with a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, administered through the New York State Department of Health.
“Any local health department’s mission is to prevent disease and injury, promote health within the community, and protect residents from emergencies and diseases,” explained Smith. “This mobile unit is another tool in our toolbox to achieve these goals.”
Smith hopes to showcase the van at the Steuben County Fair in August, where it can serve as a platform for community engagement and education about the health department and its services.
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