BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. – Thomas Shell can’t afford to miss a week of work because of the flu.
"I’m self-employed. So when you’re down for a week it really takes its toll," he said Saturday.
So Shell went to the Sullivan County Regional Health Department in Blountville on Saturday to get a free flu vaccination.
In doing so, he took part in a drill conducted by health officials to streamline local response to a threat far more lethal than the flu.
A vaccination clinic was held at the department as part of an emergency preparedness drill to test a plan that would be implemented in the event of a bioterrorist attack or public health pandemic, said Laura Boggan, public information officer at the clinic.
"Say something happens at the speedway, say someone spreads smallpox," she said. "We could have vaccinated all of Sullivan County in 10 days, before. Now, we can do it in 48 hours."
Boggan said following federal mandates in 2004, the department had to speed the response to 48 hours, causing them to make changes in their plan. To measure the success of the changes, they have to test it on the public.
Because it’s flu season, the flu vaccine seemed the perfect medium for the trial run, she said.
In 1999, the federal government issued a readiness initiative that allocated money to state and local authorities for emergency preparations should a bioterrorism attack or health pandemic occur, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Under emergency circumstances, people may be told to rush to the nearest health facility for life-saving vaccinations or antibiotics.
The key to success would be speed, Boggan said – the faster people are vaccinated, the more lives will be saved.
The federal government stockpiles medical supplies at 10 strategic locations nationwide. The Strategic National Stockpiles, or SNS, are equipped to provide supplies to all localities within 12 hours.
"It’s a nationwide effort and this is our piece of it. We want to make sure Sullivan County is prepared," Boggan said.
Dr. Stephen May, regional health director for Sullivan County Health Department, oversaw Saturday’s drill.
"This is a capacity of the Health Department that most people don’t realize we have. You ask where your bioterrorism dollars are going? This is where," he said.
May said he was glad folks like Shell came out to take part.
"Until you test a plan you don’t know where the holes are," the doctor said. "And we’re finding holes here today."
ahunter@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2531
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