8. Pharmacies/Health Plans
Many individuals require medicines each day (e.g. insulin, high blood pressure medication, synthroid, antibiotics etc.). Production of many pharmaceuticals is outsourced to other countries. During a pandemic, these medicines may not be available. What can pharmacies do in a crisis? Health plans will likely not pay for medicines purchased directly from other countries. Who can be contacted now in order to address this issue? Identify key agencies to contact in order to put a policy in place regarding the movement of medicines during a global emergency. Identify and list high risk groups in the community that will have special needs.
Should Winnebago County be stockpiling its own supply of tamiflu or other anti-influenza drugs? When should these drugs be used?
Oshkosh Community Pandemic Flu Questions
The plan is divided into 12 sections
- Individual preparedness (stockpiling food, water, masks, medicines, miscellaneous)
- Create an emergency workforce team (who will be on this team)
- Role of the Media (educating the community)
- Community Communication (e.g. moving goods and services)
- Quarantine measures /Prevention/Travel/Curfews/Crime Prevention
- Public gathering policies
- Hospitals
- Pharmacies/Health Plans/Stockpiling Antiviral Drugs
- Long-term care, including nursing home residents and elderly living alone
- Vaccines
- City Issues (garbage collection, electricity, water treatment, burial procedures, business plans)
- Oshkosh Board of Health Role