Thomas J Fitzgerald1, Danielle L Moulia1, Samuel B Graitcer1, Sara J Vagi1, Stephanie A Dopson1. 1. Thomas J. Fitzgerald, Danielle L. Moulia, and Samuel B. Graitcer are with the Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA. Thomas J. Fitzgerald and Danielle L. Moulia are also with IHRC, Inc, Atlanta. Sara J. Vagi and Stephanie A. Dopson are with the Division of State and Local Readiness, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, CDC, Atlanta.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess how US Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) awardees plan to respond to an influenza pandemic with vaccination. METHODS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the Pandemic Influenza Readiness Assessment, an online survey sent to PHEP directors, to analyze, in part, the readiness of PHEP awardees to vaccinate 80% of the populations of their jurisdictions with 2 doses of pandemic influenza vaccine, separated by 21 days, within 16 weeks of vaccine availability. RESULTS: Thirty-eight of 60 (63.3%) awardees reported being able to vaccinate their populations within 16 weeks; 38 (63.3%) planned to allocate more than 20% of their pandemic vaccine supply to points of dispensing (PODs). Thirty-four of 58 (58.6%) reported staffing as a challenge to vaccinating 80% of their populations; 28 of 60 (46.7%) reported preparedness workforce decreases, and 22 (36.7%) reported immunization workforce decreases between January 2012 and July 2015. CONCLUSIONS: Awardees relied on PODs to vaccinate segments of their jurisdictions despite workforce decreases. Planners must ensure readiness for POD sites to vaccinate, but should also leverage complementary sites and providers to augment public health response.
OBJECTIVES: To assess how US Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) awardees plan to respond to an influenza pandemic with vaccination. METHODS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the Pandemic Influenza Readiness Assessment, an online survey sent to PHEP directors, to analyze, in part, the readiness of PHEP awardees to vaccinate 80% of the populations of their jurisdictions with 2 doses of pandemic influenza vaccine, separated by 21 days, within 16 weeks of vaccine availability. RESULTS: Thirty-eight of 60 (63.3%) awardees reported being able to vaccinate their populations within 16 weeks; 38 (63.3%) planned to allocate more than 20% of their pandemic vaccine supply to points of dispensing (PODs). Thirty-four of 58 (58.6%) reported staffing as a challenge to vaccinating 80% of their populations; 28 of 60 (46.7%) reported preparedness workforce decreases, and 22 (36.7%) reported immunization workforce decreases between January 2012 and July 2015. CONCLUSIONS: Awardees relied on PODs to vaccinate segments of their jurisdictions despite workforce decreases. Planners must ensure readiness for POD sites to vaccinate, but should also leverage complementary sites and providers to augment public health response.
Authors: Jonathan D Lehnert; Danielle L Moulia; Neil C Murthy; Amy Parker Fiebelkorn; Sara J Vagi; Stephanie A Dopson; Samuel B Graitcer Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2018-09 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Cristina Carias; Jonathan D Lehnert; Bradford Greening; Bishwa B Adhikari; Emily B Kahn; Martin I Meltzer; Samuel B Graitcer Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2019-09 Impact factor: 9.308