We’ve seen the media coverage of the Lumen Field COVID vaccination site, but what happens behind the scenes is like a race crew working to make their car run faster to beat a microscopic competitor who threatens to take the lead.

Staff arrive more than three hours before the doors open to set up the queues, place directional signs, and prepare dozens of vaccination stations. They put on their vests, sign in, and check out their two-way radios, getting ready for thousands of people to stream through the doors.

Two morning staff meetings one hour apart ensure that everything is ready for the day.

Volunteers arrive next to assist with wayfinding, language interpretation, and more. They put on their vests and badges and receive training for their positions. After more than two months of experience, the Lumen Field operation runs like a well-oiled engine with all the gears and pistons running in quiet synchronization.

Of course, there are times when a leader of the “pit crew” needs to step in to keep things on track. On the first day that 12-15 year-olds were eligible for vaccines, the line designated just for them became backed up since many families brought more than one child. On the fly, staff “tuned up” the operation and moved older teens to the adult lines without missing a beat.

The operation runs so smoothly because there are many people paddling like crazy underneath the surface.

Behind blue drapes, vaccine “pullers” draw the life-saving medication into syringes, filling nearly 8,500 on a recent day. The goal is to prevent any waste from having too many syringes and not enough people to vaccinate. On that same day with hundreds of walk-ins without appointments, the vaccine pullers hit the exact number of doses needed.

Across the radio system, you regularly hear requests for technology support, another important part of keeping the engine running. Maintaining electronic records of the vaccines is critical and helps to ensure all the information is correct. It’s also a way to measure demand and anticipate future needs.

Radio communications are very important in a place as big as the Lumen Field Events Center. It can take 10 minutes to walk the length of the building, so staff depend on their two-way radios to ask questions, seek assistance, and provide notifications. The radio room staff keep everyone on the same wavelength.

The City of Seattle has never undertaken such an ambitious effort as the Lumen Field vaccination site, and it’s paid off. Not only does Seattle have one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation, but now we have the experience and knowledge to respond to such a world-changing event. Cross your fingers that we never have to start up the engine again.