Zymanek: town ready in case of outbreak emergency
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Mary Kwas, a nurse with the Erie County Health Department, administers a hepatitis A vaccination during a clinic held Saturday at the Highway Department. The clinic was used as a training session for a program called POD — Point of Distribution. Photo by Jim Smerecak Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

"We 're ready," Amherst's Director of Emergency Services Jim Zymanek said following this past weekend's drive-through Point of Distribution that administered 1,300-1,400 hepatitis A vaccination shots.

Zymanek said doctoral students from Georgia Tech — who flew in to observe — will speak before Congress next month about PODs, and use the local model as an example of how to successfully use a POD when faced with a large number of people requiring vaccinations.

"A POD is a response to a medical situation resulting in a large number of people requiring the similar treatment due to a potential outbreak or imminent health danger," Zymanek said.

He added that a few attempts at using a POD around the country failed. Furthermore, those attempts didn't come close to the size operated this past weekend. The town, in collaboration with the University at Buffalo and Erie County Department of Health, was prepared for 5,500 attendees. Previous attempts ranged from just 400 to 500 people.

The clinic was held for eight hours Saturday and six hours Sunday, addressing those in need of the second hepatitis A vaccination, following the positive testing of an employee at a Sheridan Drive grocery store in February.

Attendees were directed from the Center for Tomorrow on UB's North Campus to the Amherst Highway Department on North Forest Road, where nurses at the drive-through POD efficiently administered the shot.

Patients never had to get out of their vehicles.

Zymanek said there were three fast lanes and one slow lane. The fast lane had cars through in less than two minutes, and the slow lane was just over two minutes. The goal was to treat 250 carloads an hour.

"It was a huge success, without question," he said.

He said changes were made since February, where 11,000 people stood in line at Erie Community College for hours to receive the first vaccination. Due to the cold temperatures, buses were brought in to keep patients warm, as the hallways couldn't contain everyone.

Zymanek also noted that such a scene could hamper attempts to vaccinate large groups of people.

The POD allows patients to stay comfortably in their vehicles, moving through the system. It also separates patients from breathing on each other for hours while awaiting vaccination.

Zymanek said the county is ready to implement a POD in Western New York should a widespread outbreak occur.

One change needing to be addressed was the paperwork. Zymanek said a "bubble" form, in which attendees filled in circles with their information, was used and was confusing for some. They will review ways to handle paperwork.

According to Zymanek, a representative from the Center for Disease Control said, "Job well done" after the second day concluded.