Drive-Through COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination in Kanawha County

Drive-through COVID-19 testing and vaccination became an important part of Kanawha County’s response to the pandemic. By bringing services into parking lots, sports facilities, schools, and health department grounds, public health teams gave residents alternatives to conventional appointments inside medical buildings.

The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department (KCHD), the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority (KCEAA), and other local partners organized events that began with limited COVID-19 testing in spring 2020 and expanded to larger testing programs, seasonal flu vaccination, and COVID-19 vaccination in 2021. Their experience illustrates both the strengths and the limitations of community-based care during a public health emergency.

Why Drive-Through Clinics Were Introduced

In early 2020, COVID-19 testing capacity was limited. People who needed a test often had to satisfy eligibility criteria and schedule an appointment. Public health officials needed ways to identify infections without sending everyone into waiting rooms or hospital facilities.

Drive-up clinics allowed many visitors to remain in their vehicles during registration and specimen collection. This helped organize patient flow and could reduce some indoor contact. A drive-through system still required trained personnel, personal protective equipment, infection-control procedures, supplies, laboratory processing, and a way to communicate results.

The model also depended on transportation: residents without a car or with mobility or accessibility needs could require other options. Drive-through clinics were therefore one part of the county’s overall response, not a complete replacement for medical care.

The First Drive-Up COVID-19 Testing Events in April 2020

On April 21, 2020, KCHD and KCEAA held a drive-up community testing event at the ambulance authority in Charleston. City of Charleston reporting documented 26 people tested that day. At the time, testing was by appointment and eligibility was tied to symptoms. Those historical restrictions should not be confused with testing guidance issued later in the pandemic.

Organizers scheduled additional opportunities at Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary School on April 28 and Bible Center Church on May 1. On May 13, a drive-up event at West Virginia State University in Institute tested 214 people, a high turnout for the early program. Events also took place at Elkview Baptist Church and First Baptist Church in Charleston later that month.

How the Program Expanded Through 2020

As testing supplies and operations expanded, the county moved beyond its smaller initial clinics. By September 30, 2020, local reporting summarized more than 18,000 tests at 58 drive-up events since the pandemic response began. That total reflects the growing scale of the operation; it is not a count of unique people because individuals could be tested more than once.

Sites such as Shawnee Sports Complex in Dunbar and the Schoenbaum Center in Charleston allowed larger flows of vehicles. Some events were coordinated with the West Virginia National Guard or included seasonal flu vaccination. The availability of services and whether appointments were required varied by event and date.

Historical Timeline of Selected Clinics

The Shift From Testing Alone to Testing and Vaccination

When COVID-19 vaccines became available, organizers began offering vaccination in addition to testing. On April 2, 2021, the Shawnee Sports Complex hosted a combined clinic. Historical event information indicates vaccination required an appointment while testing did not. This distinction matters because rules changed across locations and phases of the rollout.

Combining services allowed some residents to address more than one prevention need in one trip. For public health agencies, it also made use of the traffic lanes, signage, staffing arrangements, and community partnerships developed during the testing campaign.

Why Saturday and Weekend Clinics Mattered

Weekday clinic hours can be difficult for people who work during normal business hours, care for family members, or depend on another person for transportation. Weekend opportunities provided additional scheduling choices, although they did not eliminate every access barrier.

During August 2021, the health department held Saturday clinics on August 7, August 14, and August 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its office at 108 Lee Street East in Charleston. Contemporary notices described COVID-19 testing and vaccination access without an appointment for these special events. The August 21 clinic was also reported as a drive-through opportunity.

These clinics took place during concern about rising infections associated with the Delta variant. The historical notices show an effort to offer access outside standard hours; they do not establish an ongoing Saturday schedule in 2026.

December 2021: Multiple Services in One Drive-Through Event

On December 29, 2021, a clinic at the health department’s Lee Street location offered COVID-19 tests, vaccinations, boosters, pediatric vaccination where authorized at the time, and influenza shots. Organizers separated traffic into lanes for testing, vaccination, and people requesting both services.

A report from WV MetroNews recorded 351 COVID-19 tests, 202 COVID-19 vaccine doses, and 47 flu vaccine doses administered at the event. The clinic involved several partners, including the local emergency ambulance authority and other public agencies. It was organized during the holiday travel period amid concerns about increasing infections and the Omicron variant.

What Services Did Drive-Through Clinics Provide?

Note: This table summarizes historical services provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. Availability varied by event, location, and date. These descriptions do not represent current testing or vaccination services in Kanawha County.