Exercise reveals that pandemic influenza advice needs clarification
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Face-mask stockpile is not yet ruled out |
Advice to the public about using antiviral drugs and face-masks in any influenza pandemic and potential problems associated with stockpiling drugs need to be made more clear, according to a Government report.
Public messages need to be refined and the communication between different
Govern-ment departments and agencies needs to be improved so that information
is consistent and easily understood, it recommends.
The report, “Exercise
winter willow — lessons identified”,
is based on an exercise involving emergency response committees and Government
departments and other agencies on what would happen locally, regionally
and nationally in a flu pandemic.
The exercise, which took place in January and February this year, involved
more than 5,000 people, who tested action plans and communication channels.
Although the events did not test public access to, and distribution of,
antiviral medicines it was clear that any system — which the report
points out might involve telephone communication — would have to
be robust and safe from abuse.
The Department of Health document confirms that it is continuing to identify
which health supplies would be essential during a pandemic, how the pharmaceutical
industry could guarantee their supply and how they would be distributed.
Discussions are also still taking place about the costs and benefits
of creating a UK stockpile of medicines and face-masks. The Government
is also still working out priorities for antiviral drugs, vaccines and
antibiotics in case of shortages. It is expected that first call will
go to medically at risk groups and front-line health and social care
staff.
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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