A casting call for a pandemic drill

Via The Marysville Advocate in Kansas: Crowd needed for flu testing at health office. Excerpt:

Sue Rhodes is expecting chaos on Aug. 4, and she welcomes it.

Rhodes, Marshall County public health nurse, and staff members at the Marshall County Health Department are planning a pandemic flu training exercise, and they want Marshall County people’s help — the more, the better.

All residents are invited and encouraged to take part in the exercise, which will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 4 at St. Gregory’s School, 207 N. 14th, Marysville.

Rhodes said the health department has been preparing for several years for pandemic influenza, which is a global outbreak caused by a new influenza virus.

“Despite our best effort, the effects of pandemic influenza could bevery severe,” she said. “Federal, state and local governments all have plans in place that can help in responding to pandemic influenza.”

The Marshall County Health Department has decided to simulate and test its plan to administer a mass quantity of flu vaccine in a brief time.

“In a true pandemic, the state and federal governments will expect us to administer flu vaccine to everyone in our county within approximately one week,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes said she is asking that “anyone and everyone come forward and act as citizens walking through the clinic to get vaccinated.”

“We would like to simulate vaccinating as many people as possible in a trial three-hour period,” she said. “While you are there, register for a drawing and pick up your free family preparedness guide.”