2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic A Local Public Health Agencys Experience

Steve Johnson Local Public Health Preparedness Coordinator Representing: Brown County Health Department City of De Pere Health Department Oneida Community Health Services

Lessons Learned What went well? What needs improvement?

Primary Public Health Activities Throughout the Pandemic Disease Surveillance & Containment Public Information Vaccine Management & Distribution

Funding PHER – Public Health Emergency Response

Legend = went well

Legend = needs improvement

Disease Surveillance & Containment Partner updates Communication PPE

Partner Updates Face-to-Face May 1, attended Teleconferences Communicable Disease Surveillance meetings

Communication MediaSite Live Webcasts WI DHS Situation Reports WEDSS

Not Everyone On Board Experimental Some clinicians not supportive of vaccines Belief vaccine is harmful to pregnant women Its just the flu

Personal Protective Equipment N95 respirators in short supply Confusing guidelines for use

Public Information Coordinated messages Communication methods Target groups Clinics

Coordinated Messages Local collaboration between health agencies Timing of clinics

Communication Dont rely on news media as only source to get information to the public

Other Sources/Methods Communicable Disease Surveillance Group Chamber of Commerce newsletters Disparate groups Schools Churches Ethnic groups Fax/ distribution lists Fliers

Sources/Methods (continued) Billboards Yard signs Websites* Twitter E-Sponder

Conveying Target Groups Was Challenging Who could get what and when? Nasal vs. injectable Shift from seasonal flu campaigns

Vaccine Management & Distribution Vaccine Clinic sites/types Equipment Signage Volunteers Just-In-Time Training

Vaccine Slow to arrive, particularly NE Wisconsin But…vaccination clinics werent overrun

Previous Planning Performed Memoranda Of Understandings (MOUs) with Points of Dispensing (PODs) Familiarity with sites Experience from exercises Incident Command System (ICS)

H1N1 Vaccinations 18,559 since late October 2009 By Brown County, De Pere, Oneida Nation

Varied Clinic Sites Successful Neighborhood clinics were popular Some intimidated by large venues

Clinic Sites/Types Target groups Health care workers Large mass venues Neighborhood clinics Health Department Appointment Walk-in Special needs Outreach to disparate groups

Brown County Arena November 12 – 857 November 14 – 1,178

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints November 19 – 1,099

Shopko Hall December December 17 – 2,060

Lambeau Field Atrium December 2 – 1,505 January 12 – 1,322

Schools (General Public) Wrightstown Middle School – 411 Pulaski Middle School – 858 West High School – 475 East High School – 650 Bay Port High School – 412 Denmark Middle School – 129

De Pere Health Department 4,376 vaccinations Community Center November January 8 – 500 Schools Appointment Walk-in

Oneida Nation Elementary School November 13 – 279 November 14 – 405 January 20 – % Non-Native at Oneida Clinics

Equipment Radios Vests PPE Stanchions Privacy screens Vaccine coolers

Clinic Signage Aided flow Multiple languages English Spanish Hmong

Volunteers Red Cross WEAVR (Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry) CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Estimated 500+ hours

Just-In-Time Training Temporary staff and volunteers Standardized materials Volunteer Expert Panel Recommendations Job Action Sheets

Most Valuable… Flexibility Strong Community Partnerships

Contact Information Steve Johnson (920)