SWAG视频 works with state and community partners for public health emergency preparedness exercise

SWAG视频 works with state and community partners for public health emergency preparedness exercise

The SWAG视频 hosted two public health emergency preparedness training exercises in collaboration with state and community partners, offering free influenza vaccinations to the SWAG视频 community and public as part of the events.

鈥淔or several years SWAG视频 has registered to be part of a volunteer network of Points of Distribution, or PODs, that will serve as centers for administering medicines, vaccines, and/or necessary supplies for the public in the event of a large-scale emergency鈥, explained Dora Anne Mills, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, vice president for Clinical Affairs and director of SWAG视频鈥檚 Center for Health Innovation. 鈥淭o fully prepare for such an event, SWAG视频 faculty, staff, and students work in collaboration with state and community partners to simulate such an event, and offer free influenza vaccines to the public as part of the exercise.鈥

In Biddeford, volunteers vaccinated more than 200 SWAG视频 students, faculty and staff. In Portland, they provided vaccines for more than 100 SWAG视频 community members and members of the public. This is the second year in a row that SWAG视频 has partnered with local and state public health agencies to conduct a POD exercise.

The exercise is done in collaboration with a number of partners, including: Maine CDC, Cumberland District Public Health Council, Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency, the City of Portland鈥檚 Maine Cities Readiness Initiative, Walgreens and Maine Responds (Maine鈥檚 emergency health volunteer system). 鈥淎s part of this initiative, SWAG视频鈥檚 Center for Health Innovation works collaboratively with our health professions programs as well as state and community partners to provide learning experiences for our students. A number of medical, public health, nursing, pharmacy, and other students attend sessions run by emergency preparedness experts and assist in administering vaccines,鈥 said Mills. 鈥淎s a result, southern Maine will be better prepared for an emergency today, and tomorrow鈥檚 health professionals will also be better prepared.鈥

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