News Brief: AHA releases disaster readiness advisory
August 1, 2002
News Brief: AHA releases disaster readiness advisory
The American Hospital Association (AHA) in Chicago has issued a disaster readiness advisory. As part of this process, AHA has sent out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations for a national smallpox vaccination strategy, along with a checklist of AHA-recommended next steps for hospitals.
In the advisory, which was faxed to members July 8, the AHA recommends sharing all pertinent information with the hospital disaster readiness team, reviewing the bioterrorism plan in the event of a smallpox outbreak, finding out which hospitals are the referral centers in the case of an outbreak, and connecting with community public health leaders to integrate emergency response plans.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended smallpox vaccinations for first-line responders and designated public health authorities. Specifically, it does not recommend vaccinating the general public.
To access the advisory, go to the AHA web site, www.aha.org, and search under "Disaster Readiness."