Florida City, Fire Department Team Up for Mobile Vaccine Vans

The City of West Palm Beach, Florida, fleet department has assisted the city’s Fire Department with acquiring two Covid-19 mobile vaccination units.

Dave Persad, CAFM, fleet superintendent for the city, said there were a number of factors that went into the spec’ing the mobile vaccination units, including:

• Availability – The city needed units on the ground that fit its immediate needs. It didn’t have the luxury of time to order the vans and have them built.
• Functionality – The vehicle it chose was a ¾-ton Chevrolet 2500 for space, cargo capacities, and towing capabilities.
• Amenities – The vehicle needed to be upfitted in such a way that it would get the job done and remain as sanitary as possible. It includes a finished cargo interior for easy cleaning and sanitizing, workstation desks, multiple LED cargo dome lights, shelving and storage, remote ventilation fan, inverter for a small refrigerator and other electrical items, and USB outlets in the cargo area.

Even as the world nears the tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Persad said he believes the mobile vaccination units will continue to be useful.

“This is why we opted to go with a ¾-ton with towing capabilities and easily removable shelving and storage, with anticipated use for life after COVID-19,” he explained.

To make the city’s vehicle vision a reality, Christy Self at Alan Jay Fleet Sales worked tirelessly to locate units and worked together with Advanced Work Vans. The vehicles were outfitted and delivered at a cost of $39,098 each.

“When I was approached by Fire Chief Diana Matty and Brent Bloomfield, the assistant chief and emergency manager, about the need to acquire two vans to serve as mobile vaccination units, we discussed the requirements and I went to work to source and design the units,” Persad said. “Although I ran into several roadblocks with availability and backorders of parts and components by the upfitters, at the end they came through by making the impossible a reality within 30 days.”