2008 News

October 20, 2008

Third Annual Pandemic Flu Drill Tests Systems, Vaccinates Against This Season’s Flu

The Bucks County Health Department and Emergency Management Agency Saturday held its third Pandemic Flu drill. The drill has a dual purpose – immunize citizens from the winter season’s flu, and prepare county officials and citizens for a Pandemic Flu mass-vaccination scenario. 

Over the course of four hours, more than 4,500 vaccines were administered in five locations: Ottsville Fire House, Quakertown Freshman Center (where Commissioner Charles H. Martin received his flu shot), Holicong Middle School, Bucks County Rescue Squad, and William Penn Middle School. Two locations featured a drive-in set up.

“We are grateful to the public, our volunteers, and the Major Incident Response Team (MIRT) team for a successful drill,” noted Exercise Director and Health Department epidemiologist Meredith Allen.  

In addition to the approximately 55 members of Health Department staff at the PODs, personnel from the county’s Emergency Management Agency were called to staff the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Ivyland. The EOC serves as a communication and coordination hub during emergencies and exercises.  John Dougherty oversees operations there.  “At this level, we’re able to troubleshoot.  For example, we can determine whether a POD might need additional vaccines and facilitate the escort of those doses using the MIRT officers for security.”

This year’s drill enhances the county’s ongoing emergency preparedness efforts. For the first time, subscribers to the new service ReadyNotifyPA received an alert about the drill to their cell phone and email. ReadyNotifyPA is a five-county citizen alert system from the Southeastern PA Regional Task Force, and can be accessed at www.ReadyNotifyPA.org. For more tips on preparedness, visit www.BucksCounty.org/ReadyBucks.