A Countywide Effort to Reduce the Impact of an Influenza Pandemic

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic required unprecedented collaboration between county agencies and the community to reduce the impact of the virus in Baltimore County. In working to prevent the spread of H1N1 influenza, the Baltimore County Department of Health utilized technology and effectively mobilized traditional and non-traditional partners to implement a rapid, comprehensive, coordinated response. Examples of partners’ contributions include: the use of Emergency Medical Services staff for mass clinics; volunteers recruited by Volunteer Baltimore County; Public Works providing message boards on primary roads to alert the public about clinics; Human resources expediting hiring of temporary staff; Information Technology providing or upgrading equipment to meet technical demand; collaboration with public school to promote vaccination; and Community Conservation facilitating vaccination of homeless children.