HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth May 19 2009WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Health Committee
May 19, 2009
Committee Member Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Carl Weimer None
L. Ward Nelson
Also Present:
Sam Crawford
DISCUSSION OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT POLICY FOR DISTRIBUTING THE
STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE ANTIVIRAL MEDICATIONS
Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, submitted and read a handout on a
draft policy for the use of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) antiviral medication (on
file) and gave a staff report. The policy contains principals they will consider when
prioritizing distribution, which will be different depending on the factors of each event.
The following people spoke:
• Greg Stern, Health Department Health Officer, answered questions.
• Bruce Deile, Bellingham citizen, described his experience with Lyme Disease
and a rash he received after a massage.
Discussion included low income people who cannot afford the medication from a
commercial supply; a policy question of releasing the antiviral medication when the
commercial supply is gone or to supplement the supply for those who can't afford .it;
whether insurance companies would withhold their payment for this medication because the
County would provide it at no cost; a pharmacy -based model for distribution; releasing the
medication at the end of its shelf -life; the SNS supply competing with commercial supplies;
using this medication on flues other than swine flu; whether the federal government would
requisition the local supply; working with an emergency management structure to identify
critical infrastructure and personnel to receive the medication; preparing an alternative
system of care if regular systems are overwhelmed during an incident, and; outreaching to
businesses to do their own pandemic strategic planning.
UPDATE ON PROGRESS WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PLAN (CHP).
Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, submitted a handout on the
Comprehensive Health Plan Outline (on file) and a handout on the Health Care System -
Chapter 2 (on file).
Discussion included whether all policies are integrated by government exclusively or
other agencies in the community.
Health Committee, 5/19/2009, Page 1
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Trans ription
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
L. Ward Nelson, Committee Chair
Health Committee, 5/19/2009, Page 2