Meeting

Currently, state and local public health authorities are responsible for the majority of antiviral distribution and dispensing activities within their jurisdiction during a disease pandemic. However, several related challenges arose during the recent 2009 H1N1 pandemic, which should be considered in future planning. Moreover, the current economic climate and substantial funding cuts mean public health departments are losing staff, and with them, the preparedness and response planning activities required to ensure effective distribution and dispensing mechanisms. The CDC is exploring alternative delivery systems that partner with the private sector to leverage the latter's expertise in pharmaceutical distribution and dispensing. The prospective public-private dispensing mechanisms would specifically consider the requirements for dispending antiviral medications during a severe pandemic influenza. At the request from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Preparedness Forum will convene a series of public engagement workshops to gauge the public's perception of the safety, feasibility, acceptability of alternative strategies for distribution and dispensing of medications to the public during a pandemic. These workshops will take place in Fort Benton, MT, Chattanooga, TN, and Los Angeles, CA.

For more information on these workshops please contact either Bruce Altevogt, Project Director at baltevogt@nas.edu or Kristin Viswanathan, Research Associate at Kviswanathan@nas.edu .