Determining influenza pandemic preparedness resource allocation policy

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Ran Balicer, MD, MPH and Itamar Grotto, MD, MPH. Epidemiology Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO BOX 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel, +972-8-6477640, grotto@netvision.net.il

An emerging pandemic of influenza is considered to be among the most serious threats to global public health. Health authorities around the world are currently deliberating on determining the most appropriate allocation of restricted funds to the various possible components of future mitigation strategies.

In determining Israel's optimal resource allocation policy, our national task force has identified eight main potential components of a future arsenal for containing the next pandemic. These include stockpiling one or more anti-viral drugs (amantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir); stockpiling currently trialed H5N1 vaccine; ensuring future supply by international manufacturers by current down payment; promoting local pharmaceutical companies to develop influenza vaccine production capacity; preparing local veterinary vaccine manufacturers for future conversion of production lines to human vaccines; and investing in research and development of new types of vaccines.

To determine the most appropriate policy we have applied the SWOT analysis tool, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with each of the aforementioned strategies. This systematic approach enabled tackling weaknesses and threats of single strategies by appropriately matching complementary components, and thus, may allow reaching a more favorable resource allocation strategy. Thus, while anti-viral drugs are crucial for the short term response within the first several months of pandemic outbreak, they will not suffice for long term containment and prophylaxis, and must therefore be complemented with viable option for timely attaining effective vaccines.

We will present this analysis process and discuss its outcomes and its applicability to different countries and setups.

Learning Objectives:

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

1.Recognize the various potential strategies for tackling a pandemic
2.Identify relative strengths and weaknesses of each strategy
3.Apply the SWOT model to local settings and determine optimal resource allocation strategy

Keywords: Emerging Diseases, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation

Avian Influenza: Lessons Learned During a Year of Global Concern

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA