Mobile Vaccination Unit Built in 28 Days
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C0MPLETED within 28 days of the order having been ‘.....-placed, a fully equipped mobile vaccination unit was handed over to Dr. A. M. Brunton, medical director, Pfizer, Ltd., in Folkestone last week. The unit is .based on an Austin 7-ton oil-engined chassis with a 1,700-cu.-ft. pantechnicon body, and the construction was by the Folkestone Motor Co., Ltd., members of the Eerily Group.
The unit is 25 ft. 9 in. long, 13 ft. 2 in. high and 7 'ft. 6 in. wide. It is divided into three parts—a reception area, surgery and a sterilization section. The reception area is at the rear and measures 9 ft. by 7 ft., although this area is enlarged by 6 ft. by 4 ft. when the tailboard is lowered. • A roof and sidescreens enclose the tailboard area, and aircraft-type steps with guard rails lead up to the tailboard.
The surgery also measures 9 ft by 7 ft., and -contains a stainless-steel sink unit and gas water-heater. A door from the surgery leads to an external platform for which a portable s'it of aircraft steps is provided. Up to three doctors and a nurse can work in the surgery.
The sterilization section at the front of the vehicle measures $ ft. by 7 ft. and contains another stainless-steel sink and waterheater. Ahead of it is the Luton, bead, which Contains an Electrolux gas refrigerator. two 30-gal. water tanks, a small electric generating plant for recharging the vehicle batteries when an external source of supply is not available, together with hose pipes and electric cable.
Gas is supplied by six 32-lb. Calor-gas cylinders slang pannier:fashion from the chassis frame beneath the reception area. These supply gas radiators in addition to the waterheaters. Waste water passes into three galvanized tanks beneath the sterilization-section floor.
To help to cut the time of construction to a minimum, Mr. J. M. Rees, service director of the Folkestone Motor Co., decided to use as many prefabricated body items as could be obtained. Thus, the side door is a Conventional house door panelled with aluminium. the water tanks are similar to those used in houses, and the Crittall frosted side windows are also domestic components.
The unit is being made available generally to medical officers of health as from this month, and is intended initially for antipolio injections. It can be used in the event of any local outbreak of disease, or for anti-influenza campaigns, particularly where normal Surgery accommodation is not readily available.