Orange County NC Website
• Need more "bodies" to work at the event <br />• Partner agencies are important for key roles <br />Why is this important? <br />• Part of the "nested" all hazards approach <br />• Using real events to test hypothetical plans <br />• Great evaluation of our overall readiness to respond <br />Next Steps <br />• Finish evaluation of events <br />• Work with Emergency Management to improve Health's overall plan <br />• Beginlrntensify recruitment & training of non-health volunteers <br />Commissioner Carey said that Orange County has no sentinel reporting sites and <br />Rosemary Summers said that this is usually a physician's office, a hospital, public health <br />department, etc. that collects laboratory specimens and submits them on people that present <br />with upper respiratory illness. In the past, UNC Hospitals had been a sentinel site, but not this <br />year. There are also no physician practices that are participating right now. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he supports all of this, but the second bullet concerns <br />him - "guaranteed government prices for influenza vaccine be offered as an incentive far <br />vaccine production to meet the demand." He said that we are the leading nation in research <br />and development of new pharmaceuticals; however, we do not produce our own influenza <br />vaccines. He asked if the government would get back into the production of vaccines. <br />Rosemary Summers said that they have not talked about production, but only guaranteeing the <br />price. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he will vote for this, but there needs to be a change in <br />Washington. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Foushee to <br />adopt an "Influenza Vaccine Supply Resolution" and to hear an update on local plans for <br />pandemic response. <br />Influenza Vaccine Supply Resolution <br />Orange County Board of Health <br />Orange County Board of County Commissioners <br />Orange County, North Carolina <br />Whereas, each year, a substantial proportion of vaccine-preventable diseases occur among <br />adults, despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines; and <br />Whereas, adult immunization levels continue to lag far behind childhood rates, and adult <br />morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases remain distressingly high; and <br />Whereas, adults form the core infrastructure needed to respond to any emergent public safety <br />and health need; and <br />