2006 News

July 20, 2006

Bucks County Commissioners Announce Plans
for Major Disease Emergency Drill

As part of its efforts toward Influenza pandemic planning, the county Health Department will depart from its usual provision and administration of influenza vaccine to hospitals and senior centers, and combine administration of the vaccine with a multi-agency emergency drill, the Bucks County Commissioners announced today.

According to Dr. Eleanor Travers, Health Department director, “In a real health emergency, hospitals would be overwhelmed with sick people so the provision of mass vaccinations to potentially exposed persons would need to occur in venues away from hospitals.” This exercise allows the county to more realistically train its workers for a pandemic. Included in the drill will be a security component, with the Bucks County Major Incident Response Team (MIRT) participating. MIRT is comprised of 21 participating police departments from throughout Bucks County that can respond during major emergencies. According to Emergency Management Agency Coordinator John Dougherty, the Emergency Operations Center will be activated to coordinate support for the scenario.

The Health Department, in collaboration with the county’s EMA, will conduct three large flu clinics simultaneously in sites in lower, middle and upper Bucks in early November.

“This type of scenario-based vaccine program allows us to leverage maximum benefit for both our residents who want the shot, and our emergency responders and agencies who will have the advantage of exercising their procedures,” Chairman James F. Cawley, Esq., noted.

All residents nine years or older, who are medically eligible, can participate and receive influenza immunization during this drill. The health department is actively seeking medical and non-medical volunteers who would be willing to participate in training and work the event. In order to maintain as much realism as possible during the drill, the exact dates, times and locations will not be published until shortly before the event.

Volunteers should call the Health Department at 215 345 3318.