Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107973

Ricki Lacy, MS, RN, Cambridge Health Department, 119 Windsor Street, Ground Level, Cambridge, MA 02139, Linda Sprague, MA, Institute for Community Health, 119 Windsor Street, Ground Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, and Charles Ishikawa, MSPH, Advanced Practice Center, Cambridge Public Health Department, 119 Windsor St. ground level, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617-665-3759, Cishikawa@challiance.org.

Annual flu vaccine clinics are among the cornerstones of Public Health Nursing activities. For many years, public health nurses have relied on relationships with community agencies and other partners to identify community-based vaccine sites and determine schedules to make flu vaccine accessible to our constituents. Experience has confirmed that elders in the community are accustomed to the rituals of flu season. They expect, and experience, similar routines each year. The 2004-2005 flu vaccine shortage brought new challenges to this community-based intervention. Essential elements in flu vaccination planning this year included unusual risk communication, public and provider education, and strategies for dispensing a limited amount of flu vaccine to an expectant and anxious community. With this in mind the Cambridge Public Health Department's approach to the crisis was rooted in emergency response theory. Additionally, the Cambridge Public Health Department, as part of a regional planning group, faced the challenges of this flu season by participating with neighboring health departments to run regional flu clinics in the model of mass dispensing sites. This paper highlights the experience of local public health nurses implementing new strategies in one community. It also draws on data collected during a post evaluation of 4 regional flu vaccine clinics collaboratively operated by several health departments. Discussion of lessons learned will serve to illustrate best practices and solutions to barriers that presented during the development and implementation of these clinics. In addition the paper demonstrates that setting up a regional model has the ability to facilitate planning for mass dispensing initiatives that are critical to the regional emergency response plan. Findings indicate that key elements to enhancing public health infrastructure include the importance of partnerships, networking, and collaboration. In addition, the data highlighted ways in which to operationalize procedures, enhance training, and improve risk communications efforts. Through the utilization of emergency response techniques such as risk communications plans, memorandums of understanding, and incident command, local public health departments were able to successfully develop and implement regional flu clinics, while at the same time strengthening public health infrastructure within the region.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Discuss obstacles and possible solutions to operating interjurisdictional dispensing sites
• Identify stratigies for sharing resources and best practices among public health nursing staff
• Describe principals of incident command as they apply to more routine public health interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.