What is point of dispensing (POD) and when might a POD be needed?A site where medications or vaccines intended to prevent

disease may be given quickly to a large number of people in the event of a public health emergency

Needed if:An exposure of an infection is causing illness

ANDDisease from that infection may be prevented through the

use of antibiotics or a vaccine

Local Public Health Responsibility

Get medications/ antibiotics (prophylaxis) into 100% of population within 36 hours.

Why 36 Hours?Worst Case Scenario based on Aerosolized Anthrax

Spores proliferate, spread and produce toxins rapidly within the lungs when inhaled

Life-Threatening infectious diseaseNot likely but possible

Plans can be utilized to address other slower moving health issues such as pandemic flu

8 Public Health Regions in Minnesota

NorthwestNortheastWest CentralCentralMetroSouthwestSouth CentralSoutheast

Populations – 2010 CensusState of Minnesota – 5,303,925Metro Counties Total – 2,751,294 – (51% of state)

Hennepin (1)– 1,152,425Ramsey (2) – 508,640Dakota (3) – 398,552Anoka (4) – 330,844Washington (5) – 201,130Scott (10) – 89,498Carver (11) – 70,205

Strategies Open Point of Dispensing (POD) SitesClosed Point of Dispensing (POD) Sites

Health Care Long-Term Care/ Assisted Living Clinics Home Care Agencies

Community Based Organizations Businesses

What are the benefits?Business Continuity/Asset Protection

Keep your business open and going Providing prophylaxis will prevent employees, clients and their

family members from becoming ill Good for you and for the public who will need supplies and services

The Prep Act, passed by Congress in 2005, assures: “…protection from liability…unless wilful misconduct.”

Incentive for employees to come to work Good Public Relations

Internally – tells your employees that you value them and realize they are your most valuable resource

Externally – tells the public that you value your employee along with customers and want to stay open to serve them

How does this help us all?Consistent with basic National Incident Management

System (NIMS) principlesAll disasters begin locally All responses must begin locally

Fewer people at Open PODsMore people receive prophylaxis in timely mannerLess chance of spread of disease

Less public fear and chaos

What are we asking of you?To partner with us to fulfill this responsibility by

becoming a Closed Point of Dispensing (POD)Prevent the spread of illness by providing prophylaxis Help to decrease the amount of time it takes to dispense to

100% of our populationDecrease the number of people who will need to go

to an Open Point of Dispensing SiteProvide more direct access to needed medications

for your employees, clients and their families

What does it require from you?Complete online Closed POD training (less than30 minutes)Develop plans to provide prophylaxisIdentify and train people to fill roles within the Closed PODPick up antibiotics from Local Distribution Node (LDN)

Responsibilities