Assignment
Assignment Objectives: Describe how biosecurity is used to prepare for and mitigate against biological threats. Explore and discuss the policies concerning development of medical countermeasures (MCM) and how the limitations of dual-use dilemma are addressed through the Public Health Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) strategy.
Assignment: This assignment should take about 3 hours to complete.
Learning Outcome: This assignment addresses Learning Outcome 4. Students will be able to analyze disaster-related issues and problems and demonstrate knowledge of resources, response and recovery capabilities, and mitigation measures appropriate for addressing disasters.
Katz (2013) discusses in Chapter 8 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Centers of Excellence and the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE). Select and study one of the PHEMCE participating federal agencies and describe its role in development of a Medical Countermeasure (MCM). Feel free to target an agency for your study within the mother agency to track its role such as DHHS/ASPR's BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority).
Go to the PHEMCE webpage and browse the latest announcements. Click (right menu - Popular Links/PHEMCE), the PHEMCE link to review those federal agencies involved in MCM development. Also see Strategies & Reports for background, strategies and CBRNE-specific development within the PHEMCE program. Select one agency and study its role in MCM development.
Write a 500-word essay and cite the references in APA style. Use outline below as topics to guide development of your essay from your research.
1. Background:
a. What is the role of the PHEMCE agency in the MCM program?
b. Select one CBRN and describe the agency's role in the PHEMCE/CBRNE development process.
c. Explore and describe the application of PHEMCE agency's role in CBRNE development, production and/or distribution?
2. Preparedness Planning:
a. As an emergency manager (county or state), who is your partner agency (s) in acquiring and deploying the CBRN of your research study? Describe briefly, each partner agency's role.
b. How will you ensure your jurisdiction is ready to activate for distribution for this particular medical countermeasure?
3. Conclusion: What challenges remain in planning and preparedness?
Readings:
Katz, R., Chapter 8, The Research Agenda, Essentials of Public Health Preparedness, Jones & Bartlett Learning, Burlington, 2013.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS) (2016). PHEMCE Medical Countermeasures.com.