Public Health unveils 'InfectMeNot' campaign and details POD trailers, ventilators and stockpile capacity

Department of Public Health officials told the Disaster Council on Sept. 12 that the department is preparing public-facing pandemic-flu education and operational assets ahead of an October outreach launch.

Dr. Fourniak described point-of-dispensing (POD) trailers on display that can be pulled to designated neighborhood sites and used to set up clinics. He said the system is designed to help prophylax the city’s daytime population when necessary and that there is a POD playbook to operationalize sites quickly. "These are trailers that we can use to set up point of dispensing clinics for antibiotics or vaccines in the event that we might have to prophylaxis, 1,200,000 people," he said.

Dr. John Brown outlined emergency medical assets including field-care clinic tents, 22 portable Thomas field packs, 38 ventilators, and a local pharmaceutical stockpile sized to prophylactically treat about 230,000 disaster-service workers and priority personnel while supporting surge care in hospitals. Officials said stockpiles are primarily stored at San Francisco General Hospital and some community hospitals.

Olivia Brouche previewed the InfectMeNot public-education campaign — developed with foundation support and focus groups — that will include transit and other ads explaining infectious diseases, prevention behaviors and kit-augmentation guidance. The department plans to distribute pandemic materials and sample kits and is coordinating with other city departments, clinics and community locations for an Oct. 21 distribution tied to the ShakeUp San Francisco drill.

Officials urged organizations and residents to review kits and to expect outreach to include multilingual materials for vulnerable populations. No new regulatory measures were proposed at the meeting; DPH asked for continued coordination with other departments and community partners.