Feds Seek to Make Swine Flu Vaccine Mandatory

HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan

http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/pdf/HHSPandemicInfluenzaPlan.pdf


page 282

6. Legal preparedness
State and local health departments should ensure that appropriate legal authorities are in place to facilitate implementation of plans for distributing pandemic influenza vaccines. Health departments might undertake these legal preparedness steps:
• Ensure that plans for distribution of vaccines are reviewed by appropriate legal authorities.
• Determine whether state and local laws allow non-licensed volunteers or healthcare workers from other jurisdictions to administer influenza vaccines.
• Work with professional organizations and unions to consider options for emergency performance of tasks outside of standard job descriptions.
• Determine whether state and local laws allow mandatory vaccination to the protect public health, if needed.

7. Training
State and local health departments can assist healthcare partners in conducting training exercises to facilitate rapid and effective delivery and use of vaccines (see Supplement 3).

Exercises and drills are essential to ensure that emergency procedures are in place and that roles and responsibilities are well understood. It may be useful, for example, to practice emergency implementation of mass vaccination (e.g., receiving large quantities of vaccine; storing and handling vaccine; setting up and staffing clinics; administering vaccine; testing information management systems; educating the public, media, and medical providers; targeting specific priority groups).
Tweet