When would we expect to distribute emergency medications at work?
Push Partner PODs would only be opened in the rare event that the whole population is at great risk of exposure to a contagious disease or other biological agent and preventative medications need to be taken immediately to prevent severe illness.
Some examples of biological agents that would trigger the opening of a Push Partner POD are:
The public health model that we plan for is based on an exposure to deadly agents, like Anthrax, which can rapidly lead to serious illness or death in a matter of a few days. In this situation, medication to prevent infection is most effective if given within 48 hours.
The first 12-18 hours will be spent with preparation, planning, and mobilization; in essence getting authorization and supplies ready to open. Realizing that we have less than 2 days to provide every person in Yolo County (approximately 200,000) with emergency medications and the instructions on how to take it, the health department is reaching out to large businesses, city government, and universities to help distribute emergency medications to their own employees.
This means that partnering with businesses and other groups in the community is key to successfully dispensing medications to our entire population within the given time frame.