NACCHO’s Medical Countermeasures (MCM) Workgroup met on August 8, 2016 for it’s second meeting of the project year. The meeting started with representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcing a series of trainings on the using RealOpt software for Point of Dispensing planning.
Next, the MCM Workgroup Chair, Sarah Keally of Fairfax County (VA) Health Department, kicked-off the first monthly show-and-tell session by sharing information on her recent MCM full-scale exercise. She mentioned the When-to-Work website as a useful tool they have utilized for scheduling response staff as it contains features for two-way messaging to/from volunteers, ascertaining availability, and helping to build rosters over the course of the response.
Following Sarah’s presentation, the MCM Workgroup discussed final comments to the MCM Workgroup 2016-2017 work plan. This year the MCM Workgroup will be exploring best practices related to antiviral distribution, personal protective equipment, and prioritization of MCMs for first responders and critical infrastructure personnel.
The next Workgroup call will take place in September with a focus on selecting topics to submit as abstracts for the 2017 Preparedness Summit.
