The Pitt County Health Department will close early Friday to take part in a mass vaccination drill to simulate an emergency response to a large disease outbreak, the county announced.
The public health building off of Old Creek Road will close after noon for the remainder of the day in order to host the emergency preparedness exercise, a Wednesday news release from the county said. The purpose of this exercise is to improve readiness and response among public health staff and partnering agencies.
A large-scale incident will be simulated, requiring numerous people to receive a vaccination for the prevention of disease after a potential exposure. The exercise will include the standup and operation of a "point of dispensing” site, where vaccinations would be administered to the public in the event of a real life outbreak.
Public health staff and partners “must be ready to respond quickly as disease outbreaks can occur at any time,” Kathy Sheppard, emergency preparedness coordinator for the Public Health Department, said in the release. “Training and exercises are essential and required to ensure that first responder staff is adequately trained to efficiently respond to real life emergencies.”
The health department will be partnering with the following groups to implement the exercise:
■ NC Eastern Regional Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response
■ Pitt County Emergency Management/Pitt County Emergency Medical Services
■ Pitt County Office of Public Information
■ Pitt County Schools Office of Public Information
■ Pitt County Sheriff’s Office
■ Vidant Community Health Programs School Nurse Program
Both the Health Department, located at 201 Government Circle in the Pitt County Office Park, and its Environmental Health Division, located at 1717 Hospital Drive, will be closed to provide staff with time to participate in this valuable exercise. Normal business hours will resume on Monday.
Anyone who receives services from the health department and has questions regarding this schedule change can call 252-902-2426.
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