Thanks to our own Ross S, public health policy maven extraordinaire, for the heads up on the CDC's webcast of CDC Bioterrorism Update: Smallpox Preparedness via their website tomorrow and Friday, December 5 and 6, at 5:30 PM ET:

BROADCAST INFORMATION
"CDC Bioterrorism Update: Smallpox Preparedness"
A National Immunization Program and Public Health Training Network
Live Satellite Broadcast & Webcast

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Implementation of vaccination plans for smallpox preparedness and response will require a variety of persons in state and local health departments, hospitals, and other healthcare settings to receive information on smallpox and smallpox vaccine issues. This program will assist stakeholders in planning and preparation for vaccinating public health and healthcare response personnel who would be needed to provide care for and implement control strategies for initial smallpox cases.

This broadcast will be presented in a series of modules targeted toward state and local health department and clinical personnel. State and local health department personnel will need information to guide their planning for establishing public health and healthcare response teams, and details regarding setting up smallpox vaccination delivery, administration, and follow-up. Detailed information will be provided for smallpox vaccine clinic personnel and clinicians who may evaluate and treat adverse events. Information will be provided to hospital administrators and hospital-based clinicians to help with decisions about program participation and possible vaccination sequelae. Basic clinical information will be provided to primary care physicians, including evaluation of patients with rash illness/suspected smallpox, screening issues for potential vaccinees who may seek their advice, and management and referral of adverse reactions following vaccination.

The component modules will be presented in a two-day distance learning satellite broadcast and webcast on December 5-6, 2002. Following the live program, the information presented will be available in a variety of formats, including videotape and CD-ROM.