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Kenneth McIntosh, MD,
Anne Zawacki, Connie Crowley Ganser, MSN, and Joanna
Krasinski, MSN, discuss Children’s smallpox vaccination
plan.
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March 20, the first of three open meetings scheduled to discuss
Children’s “pre-event” smallpox vaccination plan
was held.
“Pre-event” describes the situation that exists
today, where smallpox has been eradicated in the world’s population,
yet there is believed to be a small risk of possible bioterrorist
release.
Although Children’s, which has been working closely
with the Boston Public Health Commission, has not made the final
decision to participate in the vaccination program the Smallpox
Vaccine Leadership Committee wanted to present the plan to the community
at large in a setting where questions and concerns could be addressed.
In addition, beginning the week of March 24, special
sessions were held for staff from key clinical areas, such as Emergency
Medicine, Pavilion 5, and the medical units, as well as some additional
clinical and support areas. These services represent the expertise
that might be necessary to care for a potential case of smallpox.
The goal of these special sessions will be to provide more detailed
information for potential volunteers and assess staffinterest in
participating in the vaccination program.
The session was presented by Connie
Crowley Ganser, MSN, RNC, corporate director of Performance
Improvement and Compliance, Joanna Krasinski,
MSN, APRN, CS, manager of Occupational Health Services, and
Kenneth
McIntosh, MD, former chief of Infectious Diseases and a member
of the Institute of Medicine’s committee on Smallpox Vaccination
Program Implementation. If hospital leadership elects to proceed,
the program will be implemented and managed by Occupational Health,
with guidance and assistance from specialists throughout the institution.
For more information, the Q&A
for Staff and Employees should be helpful to those who were
unable to attend one of the open sessions.
Related links:
Q&A
for Staff and Employees (Internal users only)
Behind-the-scenes
work helps Children’s get prepared
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