Role: Dispensing Medications and Vaccine to the Public
The DOH may open Points-of-Dispensing (POD) sites in order to dispense oral medications or vaccinate large groups of people.
To contain an outbreak of a contagious disease or to prevent the threat of disease after exposure to an agent (e.g., anthrax), Points-of-Dispensing (POD) sites may be established in order to distribute oral medications or vaccines to the community. Large scale mass medication or vaccination PODs may resemble the large flu clinics the DOH holds each year in the fall.
Medications distributed at POD sites come from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). The SNS is a large supply of medicine and medical supplies that are owned and managed by the federal government. In the event of a large-scale disaster, the DOH may request the SNS. Supplies will be delivered to POD sites or to hospitals as appropriate.
Anne Arundel County, as part of the Baltimore Metropolitan Region, is required to be able to distribute medications to the entire County population within 48 hours. To accomplish this all parts of the DOH will need to assist in this effort.
