 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Robert Harrison, MD, MPH, Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1901, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 622-4404, rharris@itsa.ucsf.edu, Glenn M. Shor, PhD, Policy, Program Evaluation and Training Unit, California Division of Workers' Compensation, 455 Golden Gate Ave, 9th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102, and Bill Borwegen, MPH, Occupational Health and Safety, Service Employees International Union, 1313 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20005.
State and local health officials, in conjunction with local hospitals, began a nationwide pre-event smallpox vaccination program in January 2003. This session will focus discussion on practical problems in program implementation, as well as the policy concerns for employers, health care workers and the public health community.
Robert Harrison MD, MPH "Public health responsibilities" State and local health departments have been responsible for implementing pre-event smallpox vaccination among health care workers. The occupational health prevention model into State smallpox vaccination programs has raised issues such as medical confidentiality, risk communication, informed consent, blood-borne pathogen protection and compensation for injury. Models of estimating risk versus benefits of a public health program will be discussed.
Glenn Shor PhD "Compensation and the smallpox vaccination program" Compensation for injury due to the smallpox vaccination has been one obstacle to implementing a pre-event smallpox vaccination program. Workers’ compensation insurance may not provide adequate mechanisms for smallpox vaccine-related injury, and additional Federal legislation may be required. The models for Federal vaccine compensation programs will be discussed, with an update on current activities at the Federal level.
Bill Borwegen MPH "Addressing the gaps in the smallpox vaccination program" Since May 2002, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has been working in coalition with other unions and public health organizations to gain protection for health care workers who participate in the smallpox vaccination program. The perspectives from affected health care workers have been crucial in highlighting the gaps in Federal and State implementation of the smallpox response plans.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Occupational Health, Bioterrorism
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.