Special Topics in Public Health
Federal Response to Mass Immunizations
After a natural disaster or an infectious disease outbreak, immunizations are necessary to reduce the risk of infection. This is because immunizations work with the body's natural defenses to help the body safely develop immunity to a potentially life-threatening disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established protocols to initiate mass immunizations to reduce the risk and spread of infectious diseases.
Consider the CDC's public health response to an infectious disease outbreak in the aftermath of a hurricane.
Using the readings for this week and the Internet, respond to the following:
What is the CDC's procedure for mass immunizations that are necessary for certain types of infectious outbreaks such as influenza, mumps, and tetanus?
How does the CDC communicate information on mass immunization clinics to the public?
What is the procedure for establishing a mass immunization clinic for tetanus in the aftermath of a hurricane because of the likelihood of injuries during the cleanup? Is this similar to the protocol established for influenza? Compare the two protocols.
What are some of the controversies surrounding such vaccinations?