Community Planning for
Pandemic Influenza
US Administration on Aging
Office for Community Based-Services
Brian Lutz
4th State Units on Aging Nutritionists &
Administrators Conference – August 2006
Outline
1.
What is an Influenza Pandemic and its
Associated Planning Assumptions?
2.
What are the Implications for our
Mission?
3.
What are the Federal Roles, Resources
& Responsibilities?
4.
What is the Nature of AoA’s Plan?
5.
What are Your Roles?
Part I
What is a Pandemic Influenza
& Associated Planning
Assumptions?
What is a Pandemic
Influenza?
Global Disease Outbreak
 10 Pandemics past 300 years
 3 during 20th Century

– 1918 (severe)
– 1957
– 1968
Planning Assumptions
• Susceptibility to the virus will be universal
• Sustained person-to-person transmission
signals an imminent pandemic and triggers
U.S. response.
• The US, acting in concert with WHO & other
nations, will attempt to contain an influenza
pandemic or delay its emergence.
Planning Assumptions:
Epidemiologic Characteristics

Incubation period:
– 1-4 days (average 2 days)

Course of the Pandemic:
– Outbreaks in communities will last
about 6 to 8 weeks

Multiple waves may occur
Planning Assumptions:
Absenteeism
• Rates of absenteeism will depend on the
severity of the pandemic
• In a severe pandemic, absenteeism may
reach 40% during the peak weeks of a
community outbreak
• Public health measures (closing schools &
senior centers, quarantining household
contacts of infected individuals, “snow
days”) are likely to increase rates of
absenteeism
Medical Response to a
Pandemic
Potential Federal support significant but limited
– Substantial Federal assets can be brought to bear
during the initial response to contain the first U.S.
cases
– With a severe pandemic, existing surge capacity will
likely strain national capabilities


Home care services will become a necessary
means of providing care to the frail, ill &
vulnerable.
Our best countermeasure – vaccine – could be
unavailable during the first wave of a pandemic
Part II
What are the Implications
for our Mission?
Implications for Our Mission

If severe, two out of five of us, our co-workers,
and our volunteers won’t be able to deliver
services for various amounts of time.

Long duration – several weeks.

Comes and goes in waves in communities.

Vaccines very limited, particularly in early stages.

Senior centers and other facilities could close.

Severe health consequences for vulnerable elders,
whether they have the flu or not.
Preparation Important




We need to develop strong partnerships and
collaborations before health emergencies occur.
We need strategies for maintaining services to
vulnerable seniors who may be sheltered in their
homes for long periods of time.
We need to know, and maintain access to, info
about where our special populations are and
what supports they need.
We need to empower individuals and families to
plan.
Overall Planning Goal

We need to develop a framework for a
coordinated preparedness and response
system that can help maintain lifesustaining community-based services for
frail and vulnerable older people in their
homes during a prolonged health crisis.
Part III
What are the Federal Roles,
Resources & Responsibilities?
HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan
Strategic Plan (Part 1)
• Outlines planning assumptions
and doctrine for the HHS
pandemic influenza response
Public Health Guidance for State
and Local Partners (Part 2)
• 10 Planning Checklists
www.pandemicflu.gov
HHS Influenza Plan


The timing of the release of this Plan does
not signal that a pandemic is imminent.
The Plan is the result of much work in
many Federal Departments and agencies
to further prepare the government for a
pandemic, whenever it might occur.
HHS Roles


Since 2001, HHS has provided $8 billion,
principally through the CDC and HRSA, to states
and localities to:
Upgrade infectious disease surveillance and
investigation;
– Enhance the readiness of hospitals and the health
care system to deal with large numbers of casualties;
– Expand public health laboratory and communications
capacities; and
– Improve connectivity between hospitals, and city,
local and state health departments to enhance
disease reporting.
HHS Resources &
State Planning




HHS has held pandemic influenza summits in
virtually every State and the District of Columbia.
These summits have brought together State and
local officials, public health, schools, businesses, and
other stakeholders to discuss pandemic
preparedness.
With the FY 2006 emergency funding, HHS has
awarded $100 million of the $350 million allocated
for State preparedness for pandemic influenza
preparedness planning activities.
The remaining portion of these funds will be
awarded based on benchmarks that will measure
States' progress.
Part IV
What is the
Nature of AoA’s Plan?
Initial Planning Steps


On HHS Planning Team – forming
partnerships/communications with key
agencies.
Developed initial pandemic flu plan
– www.aoa.gov
– Plan is a “living document” – will be
undergoing ongoing revisions and
enhancements.
– Getting input, feedback and suggestions.
AoA’s Pandemic Plan




Goal is to seek to reduce serious health
consequences and loss of life through advanced
planning.
Ensure continuous operation of AoA essential
functions during an emergency.
Coordinate planning and execution with HHS
and other agencies. Maintain communication
between all levels of government.
Work with the aging network to plan for an
outbreak.
Ongoing Activities




Assistant Secretary for Aging message
Gathering info on best practice planning
Getting Input/feedback
Posting material on AoA website
www.aoa.gov/press/preparedness/preparedness.asp

Updated AoA’s
Emergency Assistance Guide
Part V
What are Your Roles?
Local Planning Strategies

Review Federal, AoA & your state plans via
web sites:
– www.pandemicflu.gov
– www.aoa.gov

Make sure you’re familiar with, & linked in
some way, with planning processes in your
state.
– All states & territories developing plans.
– Since 2001, nearly $8 billion in funds from
CDC & HRSA to support state & local
preparedness.
Local Planning Strategies

Think about options for how you might
continue to function under Pandemic
conditions.
Need to consider:
– Communication
– Coordinating with Personnel/Volunteers
– Alternative Work Options
– Assessment
– Surveillance
– Coordination of Resources
Local Planning Strategies



Establish connections with state &
local agencies and resources.
Know where vulnerable clients reside
& types of supports needed.
Inform and involve seniors & their
families.
– Emergency preparedness checklist

Consider planning options for you &
your family.
Resources to Help You Plan



www.pandemicflu.gov
HHS has prepared 10 checklists aimed at State &
local governments, the business community, the education
sector, the health sector, community organizations, &
individuals & families.
State & community-planning checklist:
– www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/statelocalchecklist.html

Individuals & family checklist:
– http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html
More Resources


A Home Health Care Services Pandemic
Influenza Planning Checklist identifies key
areas for pandemic influenza planning that
home health care organizations can use to
identify the strengths and weaknesses of
current planning efforts.
A Long-Term Care and Other Residential
Facilities Pandemic Influenza Checklist
provides guidance for these facilities to assess
and improve their preparedness for
responding to pandemic influenza.
Everyone’s Role



At some point in our nation’s future another
virus will emerge with the potential to
create a global disease outbreak.
We know that pre-planning is essential for
reducing the impact of disasters,
emergencies and health crises.
Critical that all of us take a strong and
active role in emergency preparedness
planning and response efforts.
Input, Feedback, Suggestions
Brian.Lutz@aoa.hhs.gov