Oregon health care workers were stuck in a snowstorm with expiring vaccines. So, they gave shots to strangers caught in traffic.

A recent event in Oregon illustrates how health care workers are getting creative to prevent COVID-19 vaccine doses from going to waste once removed from cold storage and thawed. A group of vaccine administrators for Josephine County were on their way to their final stop on Tuesday, when heavy snow caused a car accident that would shut down the highway for hours. When they realized their remaining six doses of the Moderna vaccine would expire before they could reach their destination, the team left the warmth of their vehicle to seek out stranded motorists willing to get the injection. The county health workers were prepared with the necessary paperwork and medical supplies, despite the unconventional environment. They even had on stand-by an ambulance that accompanied them earlier in the day, in case of an allergic reaction to the vaccine. After about 45 minutes, the team successfully administered all six doses.