As the highly-contagious omicron variant becomes the dominant COVID strain in the U.S., demand for COVID-19 testing and vaccines is surging. Vaccination and testing sites that accommodate up to thousands of visitors per day pose logistical challenges, particularly when trying to mitigate the spread of a highly contagious virus. Variable message signs are often deployed at vaccination PODs and testing sites to display time-sensitive information with high visibility.
We’ve gathered information from our emergency management and health department customers on the many ways they use InstAlert message signs to improve the efficiency of vaccination and testing sites. Here are some of the most common use cases:
Increasing Traffic to Vaccination & Testing Sites
InstAlert variable message signs are tried-and-true tools to increase traffic to vaccination and testing sites. Particularly as demand spikes, many people are unsure of where to go to receive a test or vaccine. Message signs are used to share site locations as well as educational information about why it is important to get vaccinated and/or tested for COVID-19.
One county in West Virginia that used an InstAlert sign to advertise a COVID-19 testing site saw 3x more visitors compared to a neighboring site that did not have a sign.
Displaying Operations and Addressing Common Concerns
Minimize questions and confusion by proactively sharing information outside clinics about hours of operation, vaccine eligibility, which vaccines or tests are currently available, and whether walk-ins are welcome. Using a remote management software like TraffiCloud® to remotely preschedule custom messages for specific days and times saves time and effort when resources are spread thin. “The smart scheduling was probably the biggest selling point for me… that saves us a ton of time.” said Keenan Campbell, Director of the Bureau County, Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The ability to change messages remotely from any internet-connected device means that emergency managers and health department workers don’t have to waste time driving or walking to different sign locations just to change messages.
Variable message signs are also used to share safety reminders like mask requirements and social distancing guidelines, helping make sure that large vaccination and testing sites with high volumes of pedestrian traffic don’t pose a major risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Guide Foot and Vehicle Traffic
With so many people visiting vaccination and testing sites each day, it’s vital to maintain a continuous flow of vehicles and pedestrians. Illuminated variable message signs that are mounted around eye level help people find their way, even at the largest sites. Our customers use InstAlert signs to mark designated areas and entrances for:
- Parking
- COVID-19 testing
- Drive-thru clinics
- First vaccine doses
- Second vaccine doses
- Booster shots
Brian Multerer, Public Safety Officer for Erie County (PA) Emergency Services, says that “Simple, concise messages are vital,” to keep operations running smoothly.
Contact us to learn more about how portable variable message signs can help with your public health messaging needs.
About All Traffic Solutions
All Traffic Solutions has been proudly serving law enforcement and municipalities for over 20 years by providing traffic safety tools such as radar signs, radar speed and message trailers, and portable variable message boards that can be managed remotely by our patented TraffiCloud software.
ATS Gives Back
To show our commitment to public safety we started the ATS Gives Back program. With this program, we commit to donating two signs a month to police departments who demonstrate need. If your police department or a police department you know might be eligible, please apply with this form (and include any supporting attachments) and send it to ATSgivesback@alltrafficsolutions.com. If you want to see previous winners, you can see them here.
