 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Diana M. Bontá, RN, DrPH, California Department of Health Services, 714 P Street, Room 1253, Sacramento, CA 95814 and Howard Backer, MD, MPH, California Department of Health Services, Immunization Branch, 2151 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, 510 540-2382, hbacker@dhs.ca.gov.
As of the date of this submission, the California Department of Health Services is at the threshold of implementing Phase I of the National Smallpox Vaccination Program (NSVP). Both at the State and the local levels, response teams of public health and hospital/medical staff are being identified for vaccination against smallpox, an infectious disease long-considered to be eradicated. These teams will serve on the front lines if the concerns of many are realized, and the United States becomes the victim of a terrorist attack involving the smallpox virus.
The reinstitution of a smallpox vaccination program has created unique implementation issues, including, but not limited to, those of public education, swift and multi-level planning, vaccine contraindications, medical workforce training, liability and medical leave, and funding. California’s smallpox vaccination plan has at its base the participation of its 58 local health jurisdictions, each with its own challenges and an individual implementation plan coordinated with overall State- and federal-level guidance. Successful partnerships with local health departments, universities, hospitals, physicians, employee unions, law enforcement and various emergency operations are key to efficient plan execution.
As we look ahead to the APHA Annual Meeting in November, we realize that most of the story of reinstating smallpox vaccination in California has yet to unfold. Phase II and mass vaccination planning guidelines have not been developed. This massive mobilization of the public health system has already taught valuable lessons, and we are assured that many more await us. This presentation would focus on those lessons.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Immunizations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: California Department of Health Services
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment