KEYWORDS:
Mass Immunization, Adolescent Immunizations, Bio-terrorism

BACKGROUND:
Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH), Arizona Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) and Department of Health Services (ADHS), and three Metropolitan Medical Response System Cities are developing plans for mass smallpox immunization and antibiotic distribution. Due to the recently ended national shortage of Td vaccine 5,025 students in the Mesa Public Schools (MPS) need Td boosters. MCDPH, Mesa Fire Department (MFD), and MPS tested existing plans by administering Td vaccine at six high schools simultaneously using personnel and resources from multiple agencies. This was done in coordination with ADEM National Pharmaceutical Stockpile Exercise conducted on November 21,2002.

OBJECTIVE:
To test the MCDPH Mass Immunization Plan by operationalizing six simultaneous functional mass immunization clinics using personnel and resources from multiple agencies.

METHOD:
MPS school nurses identified students who needed boosters, organized consent form distribution and return, and provided school resources. MFD provided paramedics to administer vaccine, coordinators at each site and incentives to each school to be used to motivate students to return consents. MCDPH provided supplies, vaccine and nurse coordinators. MCDPH, MFD and MPS lead nurses met frequently to plan and coordinate all activities to assure success. Other agencies contributed professional staff and community service clubs provided support personnel. The clinics were designed to follow the MCDPH plan for mass immunizations. It is expected that the large numbers and anxiety associated with receiving a shot will enhance the realism.

RESULT:
This collaborative effort resulted in 2808 signed consent forms returned and 1055 updated records by November 18. If all doses are administered on November 21, more than 3800 students will be updated.

CONCLUSION:
Pending

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Identify methods and procedures to conduct an emergency mass immunization program utilizing multiple staffing resources.