US Disaster Planners' Attitudes Regarding Preevent Vaccine for First Responders and Point-of-Dispensing Workers

Abstract

Disaster planners' attitudes toward preevent anthrax and smallpox vaccine for first responders and point-of-dispensing (POD) workers have not been examined. An online questionnaire was sent to US Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) and non-CRI public health disaster planners in 2013. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess determinants of belief that first responders and POD workers should be offered the anthrax and/or smallpox vaccine before an event. A total of 301 disaster planners participated. Only half (50.6%, n=126) were aware of the ACIP recommendation that first responders could be offered preevent anthrax vaccine. Many (66.0%, n=164) believed that preevent anthrax vaccine should be offered to first responders. The oldest respondents were least likely to believe anthrax vaccine should be given (OR: 0.27, 0.12, 0.63, p<.001). Fewer disaster planners believed that preevent anthrax vaccine should be offered to POD workers compared to first responders (55.0% vs 66.0%, X²=151, p<.001). Almost 20% (18.3%, n=47) reported having already received preevent smallpox vaccine. Among the unvaccinated (n=210), half (52.0%, n=105) were willing to receive preevent smallpox vaccine if it was offered free of charge. Half (53.4%, n=133) believed that POD workers should be offered smallpox vaccine before an event. Many disaster planners support preevent anthrax vaccination for first responders and POD workers, and about half support preevent smallpox vaccine for POD workers. Jurisdictions should consider partnering with first responder agencies to implement a preevent anthrax vaccination program.

Using an online questionnaire, the authors assessed the determinants of belief that first responders and POD workers should be offered the anthrax and/or smallpox vaccine before an event. Many disaster planners support preevent anthrax vaccination for first responders and POD workers, and about half support preevent smallpox vaccine for POD workers. Jurisdictions should consider partnering with first responder agencies to implement a preevent anthrax vaccination program.