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Vaccine and Other Medical Countermeasures

Medical countermeasures (MCMs) are central to the public health response to mitigate the impact of influenza pandemics. Pandemic influenza MCM planning efforts are a part of the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) process to increase public health preparedness. HHS leads the PHEMCE, the coordinating body for the federal agencies involved in the effort to protect the civilian population through the use of MCMs. Safe, effective, and readily available MCMs, including vaccines, antiviral drugs, therapeutics, diagnostics, ventilators, and respiratory protection devices, are central to HHS’s goal to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality during an influenza pandemic. An effective influenza pandemic response includes developing, manufacturing, distributing, and administering MCMs in the shortest time possible, and monitoring their impact when used in the context of a public health emergency.

Vaccination is the most cost-effective medical intervention for mitigating the potentially devastating impact of an evolving influenza pandemic. This requires developing a well-matched, safe, and effective vaccine in the shortest time possible; determining the proper dose and dosage; and administering it promptly. If a severe influenza pandemic emerges, a well-coordinated vaccination campaign would need to be implemented immediately to reduce morbidity and mortality.

The following are a collection of federal resources designed to guide influenza pandemic planning related to vaccines and other MCMs.

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