2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic

1. 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic A Local Public Health Agency’s Experience

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

3. Lessons Learned • What went well? • What needs improvement?

4. Primary Public Health ActivitiesThroughout the Pandemic • Disease Surveillance & Containment • Public Information • Vaccine Management & Distribution

5. Funding • PHER – Public Health Emergency Response

6. Legend = went well

7. Legend = needs improvement

8. Disease Surveillance & Containment • Partner updates • Communication • PPE

9. Partner Updates • Face-to-Face • May 1, 2009 60+ attended • Teleconferences • Communicable Disease Surveillance meetings

10. Communication • MediaSite Live Webcasts • WI DHS Situation Reports • WEDSS

11. Not Everyone On Board • “Experimental” • Some clinicians not supportive of vaccines • Belief vaccine is harmful to pregnant women • “It’s just the flu”

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

13. Public Information • Coordinated messages • Communication methods • Target groups • Clinics

14. Coordinated Messages • Local collaboration between health agencies • Timing of clinics

15. Communication • Don’t rely on news media as only source to get information to the public

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

17. Sources/Methods (continued) • Billboards • Yard signs • 2-1-1 • Websites* • Twitter • www.twitter.com/BrownCoHealth • E-Sponder • www.brown.wiesponder.com

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

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

20. Vaccine Slow to arrive, particularly NE Wisconsin But…vaccination clinics weren’t overrun

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

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

23. Varied Clinic Sites Successful • “Neighborhood” clinics were popular • Some intimidated by large venues

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

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

26. The Church of Jesus Christof Latter-day Saints November 19 – 1,099

27. Shopko Hall December 8 - 771 December 17 – 2,060

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

29. 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

30. De Pere Health Department • 4,376 vaccinations • Community Center • November 19 - 491 • January 8 – 500 • Schools • Appointment • Walk-in

31. Oneida Nation Elementary School • November 13 – 279 • November 14 – 405 • January 20 – 156 42% Non-Native at Oneida Clinics

32. Equipment • Radios • Vests • PPE • Stanchions • Privacy screens • Vaccine coolers

33. Clinic Signage • Aided flow • Multiple languages • English • Spanish • Hmong

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

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

36. Most Valuable… • Flexibility • Strong Community Partnerships

37. Contact Information Steve Johnson (920) 448-6443 johnson_sl@co.brown.wi.us