Governor

1
Governors Taskforce for Pandemic Influenza
PreparednessIssue Paper Communications

• Workgroup Members
• Robert Rolfs, State Epidemiologist, Utah
  Department of Health
• Cody Craynor, Public Information Officer, UDOH
• Also reviewed by Pandemic Influenza Workgroup

2
Pandemic Influenza CommunicationsPlanning
Assumptions

• Simultaneous outbreaks across Utah and U.S.
• Limited ability to share resources across
  jurisdictions
• Prolonged impact - 6-8 weeks in a given community
• Illness rates and absenteeism of 25 or more
• No vaccine for first 6-8 months and shortages
  after that
• Need for care may exceed capacity of health care
  system
• Shortages of antiviral medications, antibiotics,
  infection control and other medical supplies

3
Pandemic Influenza CommunicationsBackground

• Communications are a critical component of
  emergency/disaster response
• Communications will be critical to assure
• That the public receives, understands and can
  take action based on messages to reduce personal
  risk
• That individuals and organizations understand how
  to play a appropriate role in a coordinated
  community response
• Efficient use of limited resources
• Consistent application of guidelines and policies
  across jurisdictions
• That public and response partners have realistic
  expectations

4
Pandemic Influenza CommunicationsBackground
(cont.)

• Communications includes two distinct, but
  interrelated components
• Public and risk communications
• Operational coordination and communications among
  response partners
• Communications needs and strategies will vary by
  pandemic phase.
• Pandemic Alert Period / Pandemic Period

5
Pandemic Influenza CommunicationsObjectives
for Taskforce

• Identify principals to guide public/risk and
  operational communications (prior to/during)
• Identify any critical steps that need to be taken
  now to assure effective response
• Review current approaches and recommend changes
  in approach or resource allocation

6
Pandemic Influenza Communications (Some)
Current Activities

• Past activities
• 2002 Olympic Winter Games
• West Nile Response Plan
• General and BT preparedness activities at state
  and local agencies
• Pandemic Influenza Workgroup Activities in
  progress
• Website regular updates
• State local public health and health care
  coordination plan
• Message development
• Pre-event and for use during event
• Including translation into several languages
• Public information/risk communications plan
• Pending activities
• Operational communications and notification plan
• Contract to develop paid media and outreach
  messages
• Pandemic influenza drills and exercises (SPHERE)
• Local Health Department Pandemic Preparedness
  Activities

7
Pandemic Influenza CommunicationsConcerns

• Existing communications staff and resources would
  quickly be overwhelmed during a pandemic
• Balancing
• Need for consistent messages and actions across
  jurisdictions
• with
• Need for local flexibility to respond to needs of
  each community

8
Pandemic Influenza Communications Potential
Decisions by Taskforce1. Values

• Clearly state values that should govern public
  and risk communications prior to and during an
  influenza pandemic, including
• Communications should be the result of a
  coordinated effort between involved agencies
• Communications should be open and honest,
  describing the reasons for and the process used
  to make decisions, and should acknowledge
  uncertainty where it exists
• Communications should be conducted with the goal
  of reaching all members of the community
  regardless of race, religion, ethnicity,
  language, or cultural background
• A plan must be in place and resources allocated
  to assure that regular updates are provided to
  the public prior to and during a pandemic
• Public information and risk communications should
  be designed to communicate clear expectations
  about services that will or will not be available
  during a pandemic (e.g., regarding the medical
  care that will be available during a pandemic)
• Special efforts should be made to provide
  information to all members of the community,
  including the most vulnerable members, to help
  them take steps to increase their resiliency and
  reduce their vulnerability

9
Pandemic Influenza Communications Potential
Decisions by Taskforce2. Public Information as
Response Tool

• Public information and risk communication are
  critical tools for an effective community
  response and should be considered as part of all
  critical operational decisions related to the
  response.

10
Pandemic Influenza Communications Potential
Decisions by Taskforce3. Incident Command

• Incident command structures, lines of
  communications, and mechanisms to be used for
  coordinating among partners during a pandemic
  should be clearly defined and exercised in
  advance of a pandemic.

11
Pandemic Influenza Communications Potential
Decisions by Taskforce4. Shared Expectations

• Public health agencies, health care providers and
  other response partners should exchange
  information about their plans, capabilities and
  expectations of their partners prior to and
  during a pandemic

12
Pandemic Influenza Communications Potential
Decisions by TaskforceSummary

• Public Information/Risk Communications
• Establish values that should govern
  communications
• Public information/risk communication as response
  tools
• Operational communications and coordination
• Establish clear incident command and lines of
  communication and coordination
• Shared expectations among partners in advance

13
Pandemic Influenza Communications Potential
Decisions by Taskforce1. Values

• Clearly state values that should govern public
  and risk communications prior to and during an
  influenza pandemic, including
• Communications should be the result of a
  coordinated effort between involved agencies
• Communications should be open and honest,
  describing the reasons for and the process used
  to make decisions, and should acknowledge
  uncertainty where it exists

14
Pandemic Influenza Communications Potential
Decisions by Taskforce1. Values (continued)

• Communications should be conducted with the goal
  of reaching all members of the community
  regardless of race, religion, ethnicity,
  language, or cultural background
• A plan must be in place and resources allocated
  to assure that regular updates are provided to
  the public prior to and during a pandemic

15
Pandemic Influenza Communications Potential
Decisions by Taskforce1. Values (continued)

• Public information and risk communications should
  be designed to communicate clear expectations
  about services that will or will not be available
  during a pandemic (e.g., regarding the medical
  care that will be available during a pandemic)
• Special efforts should be made to provide
  information to all members of the community,
  including the most vulnerable members, to help
  them take steps to increase their resiliency and
  reduce their vulnerability

16
Pandemic Influenza Communications Potential
Decisions by Taskforce2. Public Information as
Response Tool

• Public information and risk communication are
  critical tools for an effective community
  response and should be considered as part of all
  critical operational decisions related to the
  response.

17
Pandemic Influenza Communications Potential
Decisions by Taskforce3. Incident Command

• Incident command structures, lines of
  communications, and mechanisms to be used for
  coordinating among partners during a pandemic
  should be clearly defined and exercised in
  advance of a pandemic.

18
Pandemic Influenza Communications Potential
Decisions by Taskforce4. Shared Expectations

• Public health agencies, health care providers and
  other response partners should exchange
  information about their plans, capabilities and
  expectations of their partners prior to and
  during a pandemic