2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic

A Local Public Health Agency’s Experience

Steve JohnsonLocal Public Health Preparedness Coordinator

Representing:

Brown County Health DepartmentCity of De Pere Health DepartmentOneida Community Health Services

Lessons Learned

What went well? What needs improvement?

Primary Public Health ActivitiesThroughout the Pandemic

Disease Surveillance & Containment Public Information Vaccine Management & Distribution

Funding

PHER – Public Health Emergency Response

Legend

= went well

Legend

= needs improvement

Disease Surveillance & Containment

Partner updates Communication PPE

Partner Updates

Face-to-Face May 1, 2009 60+ attended

Teleconferences Communicable Disease Surveillance meetings

Communication

MediaSite Live Webcasts WI DHS Situation Reports WEDSS

Not Everyone On Board

“Experimental” Some clinicians not supportive of vaccines Belief vaccine is harmful to pregnant women “It’s just the flu”

Personal Protective Equipment

N95 respirators in short supply Confusing guidelines for use

Public Information

Coordinated messages Communication methods Target groups Clinics

Coordinated Messages

Local collaboration between health agencies Timing of clinics

Communication

Don’t rely on news media as only source to get information to the public

Other Sources/Methods

Communicable Disease Surveillance Group Chamber of Commerce newsletters Disparate groups Schools Churches Ethnic groups Fax/email distribution lists Fliers

Sources/Methods (continued)

Billboards Yard signs 2-1-1 Websites* Twitter

www.twitter.com/BrownCoHealth E-Sponder

www.brown.wiesponder.com

Conveying Target Groups Was Challenging

Who could get what and when? Nasal vs. injectable Shift from seasonal flu campaigns

Vaccine Management& Distribution

Vaccine Clinic sites/types Equipment Signage Volunteers Just-In-Time Training

Vaccine

Slow to arrive, particularly NE Wisconsin

But…vaccination clinics weren’t overrun

Previous Planning Performed

Memoranda Of Understandings (MOUs)with Points of Dispensing (PODs)

Familiarity with sites Experience from exercises Incident Command System (ICS)

H1N1 Vaccinations

18,559 since late October 2009

By Brown County, De Pere, Oneida Nation

Varied Clinic Sites Successful

“Neighborhood” clinics were popular Some intimidated by large venues

Clinic Sites/Types

Target groups Health care workers

Large “mass” venues Neighborhood clinics Health Department

Appointment Walk-in

Special needs Outreach to disparate groups

Brown County Arena

November 12 – 857

November 14 – 1,178

The Church of Jesus Christof Latter-day Saints

November 19 – 1,099

Shopko Hall

December 8 - 771

December 17 – 2,060

Lambeau Field Atrium

December 2 – 1,505 January 12 – 1,322

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

De Pere Health Department

4,376 vaccinations Community Center

November 19 - 491 January 8 – 500

Schools Appointment Walk-in

Oneida Nation Elementary School

November 13 – 279 November 14 – 405 January 20 – 156

42% Non-Native at Oneida Clinics

Equipment

Radios Vests PPE Stanchions Privacy screens Vaccine coolers

Clinic Signage

Aided flow Multiple languages

English Spanish Hmong

Volunteers

Red Cross WEAVR (Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer

Registry) CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Estimated 500+ hours

Just-In-Time Training

Temporary staff and volunteers Standardized materials Volunteer Expert Panel Recommendations Job Action Sheets

Most Valuable…

Flexibility Strong Community Partnerships

Contact Information

Steve Johnson

(920) 448-6443

johnson_sl@co.brown.wi.us