Thursday, December 6
Reflections on Personal Impacts, Emerging Issues
Topic Brief
This final day is dedicated to considering in more detail questions about the impacts of the Draft Guidance on our families and communities. Today provides an opportunity for public citizens to discuss with public health officials other issues that have been raised during the dialogue and that were not directly related to the scheduled Focus Points that we’ve discussed so far. Before going to today's discussions, please complete the poll rating your views on proposed changes to the guidance. Your feedback will be considered by the Federal Government as the Draft Guidance is revised and finalized.
Panelists
- Terry Adirim, Medical Advisor, Department of Homeland Security
- Jeffrey Duchin, Chief of the Communicable Disease Control, Epidemiology & Immunization Section for Public Health, Seattle & King County, Washington
- Brant Goode, Career Epidemiology Field Officer, CDC
- Eleanor Peters, Epidemiology Specialist, St. Louis County Department of Health
Focus Point Discussions
How would the Draft Guidance affect me and my family?
Participants in this part of the dialogue will have an opportunity to deliberate about the affects of the Draft Guidance on the ways that they expect that they, their families and their community may experience pandemic influenza.
Desired outcomes:
Understanding of the various concerns that are raised by participants about the way that the implementation of the Draft Guidance would affect us all in the face of pandemic influenza.
Identification of priorities that have not been recognized in the Draft Guidance or of items that need different prioritization, so that public health authorities can consider modifying the Draft Guidance.
What Can We Do Before Vaccine Becomes Available?
Participants in this part of the dialogue will have an opportunity to discuss ways to protect ourselves, our families and our communities after the outbreak of pandemic flu and before any vaccine is available, or while waiting for our turn.
Desired Outcome:
Understanding of the various non-pharmaceutical interventions and other ways of protecting our health before the availability of vaccine.
What will make the Prioritization Guidance Acceptable?
How can we ensure that this Prioritization Guidance will work satisfactorily in communities all around this country?
Desired outcome
Understanding of the degree of general acceptance of the Prioritization Guidance and the challenges to its implementation.
Library Items
Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, February 2007. Interim planning guidance for State, territorial, tribal and local communities that focuses on several measures other than vaccination and drug treatment that might be useful during an influenza pandemic to reduce its harm.
Faith Based & Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist , HHS/CDC. This checklist provides guidance for religious organizations (churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc.), social service agencies that are faith-based, and community organizations in developing and improving influenza pandemic response and preparedness plans.
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, Response, and Recovery , U.S. Department of Homeland Security, September 19, 2006. Guide for critical infrastructure and key resources.
Talking Points on Pandemic Flu Preparedness , U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.