What is the Strategic National Stockpile?

If a large-scale emergency requires medication or vaccines it will be provided through the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). The SNS program is a federal asset managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The SNS program contains large amounts of medications, vaccines, medical equipment and supplies that can be delivered to anywhere within the U.S. rapidly.

What Type of Events Might Require the SNS?

• Natural Disasters
• Terrorist Attacks
• Disease Outbreaks

How Will You Get Medications?

There are Points of Dispensing (PODs) which are clinics for rapid medication dispensing organized by Public Health. PODs will be easy to find and can take care of many people.

The medications given at the PODs will be free and could be antibiotics, antivirals or vaccines, depending upon the situation. PODs can be set up during different emergency situations such as:

• When there is an outbreak of a contagious disease
• Some natural disasters

How Will You Know What to Do?

You will find out what you need to do and where PODs are opened by various media sources such as:

• TV and Radio
• Newspapers
• Internet (Hamilton County Gov’t and Health Department websites)