Antiviral Distribution & Dispensing
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Antiviral Distribution and Dispensing
The goals of the project are to expand the understanding of how antiviral distribution and dispensing is managed through the state and local public health system, explore more efficient ways to distribute and dispense antivirals during a public health emergency by leveraging private sector systems already in place, as well as to contribute to the knowledge-base in the area of effective countermeasure enterprise as called for by the National Health Security Strategy. This project will also explore ways to leverage private sector systems for the distribution and dispensing of antiviral medications. NACCHO, ASTHO, and CDC are working closely with the national associations that represent pharmacies, pharmacists, and pharmaceutical distributors. This portion of the project includes distribution optimization modeling, live simulations at retail pharmacies, and acceptability polling for all stakeholders. This new report, authored by NACCHO and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, is the first stage of a larger project with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners to explore alternative models for antiviral management during an influenza pandemic. Antiviral distribution and dispensing are critical to reducing the number of cases and deaths from an influenza pandemic. The authors of this report summarize and draw conclusions about the antiviral distribution and dispensing activities of state and local health departments in response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. More » A Review of Legal and Policy Issues for Antiviral Distribution and Dispensing
This report offers a high-level analysis of legal and policy issues related to antiviral distribution and dispensing. The authors of this report: (1) Identify legal and policy issues implicated in a national strategy to distribute, dispense, and track antivirals, and (2) Provide solutions to these issues (where possible) based on existing interpretations of law, practice, and lessons learned from prior emergencies. To read the report, please visit the ASTHO website here. Stakeholders Meeting for Antiviral Distribution and Dispensing Project on May 8, 2012
The CDC, in partnership with NACCHO and ASTHO, convened stakeholders on May 8, 2012 to discuss a proposed alternative method for antiviral distribution and dispensing during an influenza pandemic. To that end, meeting presenters and participants explored the feasibility and acceptability of leveraging existing pharmaceutical distribution systems by sending some of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) antiviral medication to pharmaceutical distributors and pharmacies to distribute and dispense during a pandemic. The project overall was well received by stakeholders who provided constructive comments and feedback. The principle identified benefits of this model included increased access to antivirals, use of existing systems, and reduced burden on local and state health officials. Stakeholders also had the opportunity to provide suggestions and comments to address any potential barriers to the project. Researchers from several universities presented models and studies that indicated pharmacies have the capacity to meet demand of dispensing antivirals to the public during a pandemic based on historical pandemic data and varying severity levels, and both pharmacists and pharmacy executives exhibited high levels of acceptability for this alternative dispensing model. NACCHO continues to engage an ad hoc workgroup to provide subject matter expertise, guidance, and leadership for this project. The workgroup is comprised of 10 local health department representatives from diverse geographic locations nationwide, multiple jurisdiction sizes, and both centralized and decentralized public health systems. NACCHO primarily identified these representatives though its Strategic National Stockpile, Pandemic Influenza, and Immunizations standing workgroups. Many of the representatives in this workgroup played an active role in antiviral distribution and dispensing during the 2009 H1N1 response. NACCHO hosts monthly conference calls with this workgroup to engage the members in discussions on pressing issues related to antiviral distribution and dispensing. To view the Antiviral Workgroup participant list, click the "more" link. More » |
