Oral

This session will include a panel of 11 public health professionals who will highlight unique issues, concerns and needs of up to 14 different categories of vulnerable populations during an influenza pandemic in implementing containment and community mitigation recommendations. Categories of vulnerable populations include pregnant women; persons with disabilities; persons with chronic diseases; persons with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis; inmates of prisons and jails; immigrants and refugees; low-income populations, single-parent families, and public housing residents; migrant and farm workers; home care workers; racial and ethnic minority populations; and vulnerable populations in tribal communities. The panel will highlight specific needs identified by vulnerable populations, their families, service providers and trusted leaders. Examples of such needs are inclusion of vulnerable populations and other stakeholders for vulnerable populations in pandemic influenza preparedness and response planning and creation of tailored communications to enable prompt and timely actions.

Session Objectives: Scientific evidence for identifying certain populations as potentially vulnerable during an influenza pandemic. Unique issues, concerns, and needs of potentially vulnerable populations during an influenza pandemic. Effective strategies to protect vulnerable populations during an influenza pandemic. Specific needs identified by vulnerable populations and other stakeholders of vulnerable populations to assure implementation of recommended containment and community mitigation strategies.