At-Risk Populations

Through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ASTHO has developed recommendations for state and local health officials for protecting at-risk populations during an influenza pandemic. We were assisted by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, NACCHO and the Keystone Center. 

The guidance provides a framework and recommendations to assist planning, however, many jurisdictions may not be able to implement the full set of detailed recommendations. Planners may wish to work with their partners to determine their needs related to at-risk populations and to implement selected recommendations as appropriate. Where possible, planners are encouraged to consider how to refine current activities rather than initiating new activities to ensure that the needs of at-risk populations are adequately addressed. The full guidance contains a supplement, “Proposed Timeline for Enacting Recommendations,” that adapts the recommended planning activities to the various levels of proximity and severity of a pandemic to help planners further refine their activities.

Caroline Barnhill, MPH, Director, Emerging Infections
Anna DeBlois Buchanan, MPH, Senior Director, Immunization and Infectious Disease