Practicing for the Next Public Health Emergency: Influenza Clinic in Pinellas County, Florida

Elizabeth Kim, MSPHPublic Health Associate

Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial SupportCenters for Disease Control and Prevention

2015 PHAP/PHPS Summer SeminarJune 2, 2015

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support

Flu Clinic Flyer

Significance to Public Health

Seasonal Influenza (flu) Affects about 5-20% of the U.S. population each year More than 200,000 people per year are hospitalized from flu-related

complications Up to 49,000 flu-associated deaths occurred between 1976 and 2006 Most effective way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (flu). http://www.cdc.gov/flu/. April 9, 2015.

Background

Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County Annual no-cost flu vaccination clinic

*Pinellas County Government Home Page. http://www.pinellascounty.org/about_pinellas.htm. April 9, 2015.

Pinellas County, Florida Most densely populated county in

Florida Estimated population of 916,542

(3,347 persons per square mile) Attracts tourists year round Two international airports in close

proximity

Objectives

Objective 1 To improve flu vaccination rates among those who may not normally

get vaccinated

Objective 2 To exercise the department’s point of dispensing (POD) plan by

engaging in mass prophylaxis tactical operations and mass dispensing

What is a POD?

Point of Dispensing (POD) A fixed location where medications can be provided to a large group of

people in response to a public health threat or emergency The goal is to prevent the spread of an infectious disease

Greeting & Initial

Screening

Medical TriageForm Check

EMS to transport to Healthcare

Center

Dispensing Area &

Form Collection

Exit

Potentially

ill Non-symptomatic

No need for further evaluation

Further evaluation or

treatment needed

Basic POD Flow

POD opened and staffed by 35 individuals (Health Department and Medical Reserve Corp)

Methods

Incident Command System (ICS) Structure

Incident Commander

Safety Officer

PIO

Planning Section Chief

Operations Section Chief

Drive-Thru POD

Manager

Walk-In POD

Manager

Logistics Section Chief

POD Structure

POD Manager

Inventory Manager

Runner

Medical Triage

Floor Operations

Leader

Dispensing Team

Administration/Clerical Leader

Clerical Support

Greeter

Traffic/Flow

Methods Eligibility Criteria: Any individual age 6 months and up Location: Pinellas Park Health Department Date: October 29, 2014 Time: 6 pm – 9 pm

Types of Flu Vaccines Offered: Trivalent Quadrivalent High dosage (age 65 and up) Intradermal, intramuscular, and egg free variants

Two drive-through lanes and three walk-in stations used to dispense vaccinations

Walk-In Layout

Entry/Exit

Triage/Check InCheck Out

Reception/Waiting Area

Dis

pens

ing

Line

A

Dis

pens

ing

Line

B

Dis

pens

ing

Line

C

Check Out

Walk In Flu Clinic

Parking for Walk In

Parking for Walk In

EXIT

76th Ave N

64th

St N

63rd

St N

ENTE

R

Driv

e Th

ru A

Driv

e Th

ru B

Driv

e Th

ru C

Drive-Through Layout

Results

40.7% (n=44) utilized drive-through option

108 vaccinations administered, an increase of 100% from the year prior

All volunteers were integrated into the POD structure

Evaluated POD set-up, flow, and staffing

Results and Implications

The CDC identifies the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions as high risk for serious flu complications

Our clinic served: Elderly (n=10, 9%) Young children (n=1, 0.9%) Pregnant women (unknown) People with certain health conditions (unknown)

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (flu). http://www.cdc.gov/flu/. April 9, 2015.

Recommendations

Provide the vaccine at no-cost Make vaccine available after normal business hours Provide dual option to walk-in or drive-through

Things to consider: Accessibility to the site Location of the POD Timing of the exercise/clinic Tying in themes Marketing/messaging/community outreach Data collection

For more information, please contact CDC’s Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support

4770 Buford Highway NE, Mailstop E-70, Atlanta, GA 30341Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)/TTY: 1-888-232-6348E-mail: OSTLTSfeedback@cdc.gov Web: http://www.cdc.gov/stltpublichealth

The findings and conclusions in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thank you! Questions?Elizabeth Kim, MSPH

YPH8@cdc.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support