The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68950

Lara K Misegades, MS, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), 1275 K Street, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005, 202-715-1630, lmisegades@astho.org

One of the most critical issues in pandemic influenza planning is the establishment of a mass vaccination strategy. Ongoing bioterrorism planning for mass delivery of emergency materials and vaccines provides a strong foundation on which to base a pandemic vaccine delivery plan.

There is significant overlap between the immunization challenges in the prevention of bioterrorism and the prevention of pandemic influenza. In planning for pre and post-event smallpox vaccination, state health agencies are addressing many of these challenges, including legal and liability issues, vaccination and adverse reaction documentation, training, public education, and workforce surge capacity. Ways in which state health agencies can apply this experience and infrastructure to pandemic influenza immunization planning will be discussed.

Although state bioterrorism preparedness efforts provide a scaffolding for pandemic immunization planning, the need for an annex to current mass vaccination plans stems from the unique characteristics and production of influenza vaccine. Challenges that are specific to pandemic influenza vaccination, such as adjusting an existing influenza vaccine procurement and distribution system to a pandemic situation, a possible two-dose vaccine requirement, and identification of high-risk groups for priority vaccination, will be described.

The planning efforts that are now being put towards pre and post-event smallpox vaccination, and the significant overlap between pandemic and bioterrorism preparedness, suggest this is an unprecedented opportunity for state health agencies to initiate or continue development of an explicit pandemic immunization response plan. The presentation will include examples of how states are linking pandemic and bioterrorism immunization planning.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:
• Identify ways state public health agencies can leverage their bioterrorism-related immunization experience to plan for mass pandemic influenza immunization.
• List ways that immunization for pandemic influenza will differ from immunization for potential bioterrorist agents, and identify the additional preparedness components needed to address these pandemic challenges.

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Immunizations

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.

Handout (.pdf format, 1909.3 kb)