Goals and Values for Prescribing and Dispensing Antiviral Medications

At various points throughout the sessions, participants were asked to reflect on which goals and values are most important for policy makers to advance when developing alternative strategies for prescribing and distributing antiviral medications during a pandemic.

Some of the themes delineated below reflect responses to direct questions about goals and values, while others are based on ideas that emerged in the course of discussion of other issues. The common major themes are presented alphabetically; their placement in the list does not signify their degree of importance or any other rating or rank.

Participants discussed the goals and values that should drive policies and individual actions during a pandemic when people with flu-like symptoms face long waits to see health care providers licensed to write prescriptions for antiviral medications. Goals and values identified and cited by at least some participants in each location included

• Integrity
  • To encourage civic cooperation and positive community action
  • To foster trust and confidence in the system and in the various players who are making or implementing decisions
  • To prevent panic and negative behaviors such as hoarding
    • While “gaming” the system may occur, it is not a concern unless resources become scarce (see below)
• Safety
  • Accurate diagnosis of flu and other conditions
  • Dispensing of effective, safe, and suitable medicines
  • Maintaining a high standard of care for all
  • Avoiding transmission of flu
  • Educating the public on how to prevent, recognize, and treat the flu, and on the side effects of antiviral medications
• Transparency
  • Trustworthy information provided by government
  • Accurate and consistent communications
  • Concerted outreach to inform vulnerable, isolated populations

A number of additional goals and values were identified by several participants in at least one location. Among them were

• Preparedness (MT, TN)
  • To provide quick access to critical resources
    • Special attention paid to vulnerable groups typically left behind
  • To save the most lives
• Regional equity (MT)
  • In preparedness planning and emergency response
  • Cultural and regional competency

The second discussion scenario, described in Box 2, asked participants to consider what goals and values are most important when not only are delivery systems overwhelmed, but the existing supply of antiviral medications cannot meet demand. The common cross-cutting themes that individual participants cited during this second set of conversations included

• Equity and fairness
  • To ensure equitable access by vulnerable populations (e.g., poor, special needs, uninsured)
  • To prevent favoritism, bias, and discrimination in the distribution of resources both between and within communities
  • To ensure equal access to communications about antiviral treatment
• Integrity
  • Includes compliance with prescribing protocols and priorities
  • To prevent “gaming” of the system, for example, people calling in could learn what answers would guarantee that they got a prescription regardless of whether they had the flu
  • To encourage trust and, thus, public acceptance and cooperation
  • To reduce concerns about favoritism or bias by health care providers
• Prioritize allocation of antivirals¹⁰
  • To groups identified as high risk for complications or death from the flu
  • To children
  • To pregnant women
  • To the elderly
  • To medical responders
  • To workers who keep society running
  • To vulnerable groups or individuals with a special condition or need who are not designated as high risk, but require special consideration
• Transparency
  • Accurate, consistent information sharing by authorities to maintain public trust and prevent panic and unrest

Goals and values in a time of scarcity that were important to several participants at one or more locations included

• Preparedness (CA, MT)
  • Stockpile antiviral medications to minimize (or eliminate) the need to ration
  • Ensure that antivirals are safe and effective
  • Promote community education and activism
• Prevention (CA, TN)
  • Promote infection control and social distancing (including school and house of worship closings) to minimize spread of disease and ultimately conserve limited resources

Reported goals and values varied somewhat between the two scenarios. When adequacy of the supply of antiviral medications was not at issue, individual participants spent more time considering safety concerns. When scarcity was introduced as a condition, discussions tended to include issues of the equitable or utilitarian prioritization strategies for allocating the limited supply of antivirals. Although transparency was often voiced as an important value in both scenarios, it received even more attention in the context of scarcity across all three sites. However, no matter the scenario, trust was a common theme expressed by several participants in Fort Benton and Chattanooga. These participants described their general trust in the intentions of and the capability of nurses, pharmacists, and physicians to perform their jobs. Some participants in Los Angeles, alternatively, were more skeptical of the health care system to provide care equitably and efficiently during routine operations, and expressed heightened feelings of mistrust in their institutions during emergencies.

Advantages and Disadvantages of NTLs

Individual participants across all three sessions recognized several advantages of NTLs as a strategy for getting antivirals to the public during a pandemic when doctors’ offices, clinics, and hospital emergency departments are overcrowded with both the sick and the worried well seeking prescriptions and other treatment. Although participants were not asked to consider shortages of antivirals initially, some seemed to anticipate those circumstances. Common advantages identified by individuals at all three locations included that NTLs could

• offer convenient, quick, and easy access for most individuals;
• promote social distancing by allowing sick people to access treatment while staying home, thereby helping to contain the spread of disease;
• relieve pressure on other health care providers who are critical to the response; and
• improve access to resources for vulnerable groups (e.g., elders, people with disabilities).

In addition, the following two potential benefits of NTLs were suggested in at least one location:

• Nurses are trustworthy and well trained (CA).
• NTLs could serve as a good source of information and advice about the pandemic and about diagnosing and treating the flu in general (CA, MT).

Despite these advantages, individuals in several small-group discussions at all three locations also raised concerns about the efficacy, safety, and general acceptability of NTLs under pandemic conditions. Specific concerns commonly suggested were

• In a severe pandemic, NTLs could become overwhelmed by the volume of callers, leading to busy signals, long waits, and frustration for callers.
• NTLs omit the face-to-face experience of seeing a provider, increasing the potential for misdiagnosis of the flu or other conditions.
• Some groups would find NTLs difficult to access and navigate (e.g., people without phones, the very sick, elders).
• NTL nurses may not have access to callers’ medical histories.
• The technology required may not function during power outages.

Several disadvantages were identified by some participants in at least one location, and included

• NTL nurses are not local, so will not “speak their language” or understand local conditions (MT).
• Callers might lie about their symptoms in order to hoard antivirals for themselves or family members, or sell them on the black market (CA, TN).

Yet beyond the identification of the general advantages and disadvantages of NTLs, individual participants had many suggestions for maximizing the value of NTLs, including

• NTLs must be adequately staffed to prevent long waits.
• The prescribing protocols must be clear, and NTL nurses must be well trained to follow them.
• NTLs should be designed to provide easy, quick navigation to a live operator.
• Planners should develop verification systems to confirm callers’ identities and their need for antivirals.
• People should be allowed to call an NTL on behalf of a friend, neighbor, or family member who is too sick or otherwise incapacitated to access the NTL.
• NTLs should establish a mechanism for assessing callers’ electronic medical records.

Trust in NTL Nurses

Many participants expressed strong confidence in the abilities and trustworthiness of specially trained, supervised nurses to prescribe antiviral drugs through an NTL if they could not be seen by their regular health care providers. For example, individual participants at all three public engagement workshops highlighted that

• Nurses are well trained and knowledgeable.
• Nurses are trustworthy.
• There is likely a preference for NTLs to be locally staffed and operated.
• NTLs are an acceptable alternative under the difficult circumstances of a pandemic in which normal prescribing channels will not be adequate.

Nevertheless, several participants voiced concerns about the potential for misdiagnosis and misinformation. The issue was framed not in terms of the trustworthiness or abilities of nurses, but in terms of the limitations under which they would have to operate, specifically, lack of face-to-face contact and access to callers’ medical records.

The ARS pre- and postsurveys contained two statements pertaining to participant trust in NTL nurses to prescribe antivirals: (1) that they would “trust” NTL nurses to decide if they needed an antiviral prescription; and (2) that they would “feel safe” taking an antiviral prescribed by an NTL nurse. Responses to these questions demonstrated what was heard from several participants during small-group discussions across the three sites: When the circumstances of a pandemic warrant it, NTL nurses can carry out their role to improve access to antiviral medication. Many participants continued to voice that same confidence after they had received more information about NTLs and had had a chance for discussion.

When antivirals are in short supply, individual participants expressed varying levels of confidence in the efficacy and trustworthiness of NTLs and their staff. Participants were asked to consider whether they would trust NTLs to direct antivirals to those individuals who should receive them if there were not enough for everyone. They expressed a number of points that highlighted concerns about NTLs, including

• Many NTL callers will lie about their symptoms, call under multiple identities, or otherwise “game” the system in order to acquire scarce antivirals either to protect themselves and their families or to profit by reselling them to people in need.
• NTL nurses will have little ability to assess honesty, verify who has the flu, or enforce any established prescribing priorities.
• Some NTL nurses might show favoritism toward certain groups, or discriminate against others.
• Absent a face-to-face or other reliable verification system, NTLs would be difficult or impossible to manage during times of scarcity.

Other participants raised the following points, demonstrating their trust in NTLs even in circumstances of scarcity:

• Nurses are trustworthy and capable.
• There is no choice but to trust NTLs under extreme circumstances.
• NTLs would still be useful for providing information and treatment advice, if not antiviral prescriptions.

When participants were asked to contribute their own ideas for enhancing the trustworthiness of NTLs when antivirals are scarce, a common theme was the need to develop some kind of face-to-face verification system, as difficult as that might prove. Other ideas were to establish a whistleblower hotline through which the public could report abuse, and to keep NTLs local on the theory that local organizations would know their public and be harder to deceive. Some participants accepted that gaming of NTLs would be unpreventable during times of scarcity.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Community Contact Pick-Up and Delivery

Many participants at the community conversations had generally positive reactions to the strategy of asking family and community contacts to pick up and deliver antiviral medications for the sick. This strategy’s advantages are that it could

• be convenient for people sick at home with flu;
• help contain the spread of disease by reducing the need for sick people to congregate in public places like pharmacies;
• lead community members to check in on the sick; and
• result in more helping hands and encourage acts of compassion by enlisting community members in the effort.

Nonetheless, the small-group discussions did describe the disadvantages of having family and community contacts pick up and deliver medications to the sick. Multiple participants at all three locations were particularly concerned that

• The people doing the pick-up and delivery might face increased personal risks, including exposure to flu, security issues, and legal liability.
• Some family, friends, and community contacts might be unreliable or dishonest; they might keep the antivirals for their own use or resell them for profit, particularly in times of scarcity.
• Some sick people do not have family or community contacts who are willing and able to help.
• Sick people would not see a pharmacist themselves, so would be less likely to receive advice and instruction on the use of their antiviral medications.

Some participants in Fort Benton, MT, also identified the possibility that inclement weather could interfere significantly with this strategy.

Along with this discussion of the strategy’s advantages and disadvantages, individual participants contributed a variety of ideas to more effectively implement this strategy, including

• In addition to family and friends, pick-up and delivery of prescribed antivirals could be organized through a network of established community groups and trusted agents.
• Include clear, printed instructions about antiviral treatment for sick people who will not have the benefit of face-to-face consultations with pharmacists.
• Provide personal protective equipment to those who make deliveries.
• Set up dispensing points other than pharmacies to avoid inundating pharmacies.
• Encourage primary and secondary schools and long-term care facilities to file “standing” permission slips that identify persons authorized to pick up and deliver antivirals on behalf of individual students and elders.

Several participants in Montana articulated knowledge of the local conditions as particularly important to making this strategy successful, and therefore, identified community organizations particularly familiar with the local territory—including rural ambulance crews, rural mail service, road crews, and police and fire fighters—that could pick up and deliver antiviral medications as part of their daily job. Many participants in California and Tennessee identified the need for a system to systematically verify and record the identities of those making deliveries, and ensure they had permission from sick individuals to pick up their medication.

The ARS pre- and postsurveys asked participants to state their level of agreement or disagreement as to whether “friends and neighbors should be asked to pick up and deliver prescribed antiviral drugs” from pharmacies for people at home with flu. The responses are consistent with the general support for this strategy expressed during the small-group scenario discussions.

Concerns About Visiting a Pharmacy During a Pandemic

Individual participants identified several concerns they would have about going to pharmacies to pick up prescriptions for family, neighbors, and others sick at home with flu. A common concern was the potentially increased risk of catching flu because pharmacies might be crowded with sick people. Similarly, several participants in each location identified additional concerns, including

• Crowded pharmacies could lead to panic and chaos, raising security and personal safety concerns—especially if antivirals are in short supply (CA, TN).
• People who live in rural small towns could face very long drives to reach a pharmacy (MT).

These concerns were reiterated during the discussions on a strategy to allow pharmacists to prescribe antivirals under collaborative practice agreements with physicians, described next.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Antiviral Prescribing by Pharmacists Under Collaborative Practice Agreements

One advantage expressed by several participants was that the public is already familiar with the concept of expanded scope of practice by pharmacists who, for instance, provide flu shots in many locations. Other themes that many participants in small groups in each location identified are

• Pharmacists are knowledgeable and have the best training of any medical professional on antivirals and other medications.
• Pharmacists are trusted medical professionals.
• Face-to-face strategies like this one benefit the sick by offering reliable assessment and diagnosis and by creating an opportunity for a health care professional to advise people on their treatment and answer other questions.
• This strategy offers convenient, “one-stop shopping” for diagnosis and antiviral medication, if indicated.
• Enlisting pharmacists in the response increases the capacity of the health care system.

Many participants across the three workshops expressed a high level of regard for the pharmacist profession. They indicated they would have few reservations about relying on pharmacists to carry out the proposed antiviral prescribing role because they believe local pharmacists are trustworthy and knowledgeable about prescription drugs. Several participants in at least one location also attributed their trust to the following ideas:

• Collaborative practice agreements offer adequate supervision of pharmacists (CA).
• Local pharmacists can be held accountable (CA).
• The local pharmacist is well known and trusted by the community (MT).

Although many participants in all three locations expressed a high level of trust in pharmacists, several common themes emerged when they were asked to consider the potential disadvantages associated with this strategy. In addition to the concerns about visiting a pharmacy during a pandemic to pick up medication for friends and family, several commonly described disadvantages to this collaborative practice agreement strategy include

• Pharmacist prescribing might promote contact between healthy and sick people at the pharmacy, thereby spreading disease.
• Pharmacists themselves might have increased exposure to flu and fall ill.
• Pharmacies could be overwhelmed by masses of people seeking antivirals; other critical pharmacy functions might be obstructed.

Several more disadvantages were noted at one or more of the workshops, including

• Rural areas have few pharmacies and they are far from each other, sometimes requiring long-distance travel (MT).
• Pharmacists probably will not have access to most customer medical records (CA, TN).
• Physicians involved in collaborative practice agreements might not actually follow through on their supervisory responsibilities (CA).
• Pharmacists may have an incentive to overprescribe antiviral medications if they earn a profit from these prescription drug sales (CA).
• Some people might be too sick to leave home to travel to a pharmacy (CA).
• Clarification is needed about whether law enforcement agencies might gain access to pharmacy records (CA).

However, also during the small-group scenario discussions, individual participants identified a number of strategies that could be used to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of pharmacist prescribing through collaborative practice agreements. Strategies included

• Prevent the spread of disease through measures such as providing personal protective equipment to pharmacy staff and customers, and separating the healthy from the sick through use of
  • drive-throughs,
  • points of dispensing, or
  • segregated areas within pharmacies.
• Provide clear, consistent antiviral prescribing protocols and train pharmacists on their use.
• Extend pharmacy staffing capacity by enlisting the help of retired pharmacists, nurses, and other medical professionals (specifically mentioned in MT and CA).

The ARS survey responses in all three locations reinforce the qualitative information gathered from the scenario discussions just described.

Pandemic Flu Web Site

Participant views were solicited about a web site that would offer self-assessment tools and information about prevention and treatment of pandemic flu, specifically:

• Would you ever use a web site [designed to help people] figure out if they might have flu, or whether they are sick enough that they should see a doctor or go to the emergency room?
• What kinds of information would you want to be able to find on a web site—or not?
• Would the sponsor of the web site matter to you (government vs. private organization)?

Many participants responded affirmatively to the question of whether they would ever use a web site to access information about pandemic flu and treatment options, although some participants noted the potential limitations of web sites for the purposes of self-assessment. Among the commonly described advantages of being able to receive information from a web site were that the Internet is widely accessible, and web sites can offer detailed and up-to-date information about flu and treatment options.

However, throughout the discussion several participants also identified potential disadvantages of relying on a web site for information, including

• Internet service is unavailable in some areas.
• Some populations are less likely to use computers or the Internet, so they may be unable to access this information.
• The reliability of web site content can be difficult to determine.

In Tennessee and California, several participants discussed whether members of the general public, lacking specialized medical training, could accurately self-assess their symptoms. Similarly, small-group discussions in California further expressed the concern that sick people who access the Internet through public portals (e.g., in libraries) could spread the virus.

One issue that emerged from web site discussions was whether a web site should include public forums or blogs. Some participants in Fort Benton and Los Angeles expressed a preference for such tools, while some participants in Chattanooga believed that forums and blogs were a dangerous source of misinformation and fear-mongering. Nonetheless, despite that potential, individual participants in several small groups were able to identify several categories of information they might find most helpful:

• Flu symptoms
• Flu treatment options
• When to see a health care provider
• Information about antiviral medications
  • Where and how to obtain them
  • Side effects

Other ideas that were described as increasing the effectiveness of a pandemic flu web site included

• The web site should provide a user-friendly tool for self-assessment (i.e., one that is based on a decision tree).
• The web site should use simple language and be easy to navigate.
• The web site should be made easily accessible from smartphones and other handheld devices as well as computers.
• All information contained in the web site should come from trusted sources and be closely reviewed for accuracy.
• The web site should include phone numbers to call and speak with a person for more information.
• The web site should present “the truth—the good, the bad, the ugly.”
• The opportunity to communicate directly with a nurse through the web site (e.g., Skype or instant messaging) would be a desirable feature.
• Videos to present information would be useful for all, but especially for people at lower literacy levels.

Not only did participants discuss the content of the web site, but they were asked to discuss whether the sponsor of a pandemic flu web site would matter to them and, if so, whether a government or private sponsor would be preferable. Many participants at all three sessions indicated that the sponsor would be important, and that the sponsor—whoever it is— must be a reliable broker of accurate information. On the question of whether such a web site should be sponsored by a government or private entity, responses were mixed, with many participants expressing neutrality on the issue. Individual participants who favored a government sponsor cited the following reasons: (1) commercial web sites tend to be promotional and, thus, less trustworthy; (2) government has the requisite expertise and access to information; and (3) government has a duty to protect the public’s health, including the role of information disseminator. Several participants who favored a private sponsor noted a general distrust of government.

Finally, notwithstanding the possible barriers and other concerns cited by some, many participants at all three sites thought that, if they had flu-like symptoms, they “would like to be able to go to a trusted web site for advice on whether to seek treatment.”

Text-Messaging System

The second information strategy consists of a text-messaging system that would issue a series of messages to people who already have been prescribed antivirals. This strategy was presented in general terms as a way for people to opt in to receive text messages from “the experts” that could help them manage their antiviral treatment.

Participants were asked to consider “a system that would send text messages to cell phones of people who have been prescribed antiviral drugs—at their request—to remind them to take their drugs, to advise them of possible side effects, or to provide other information about their flu treatment.” Individual participants who favored this strategy listed the following advantages in favor of it:

• Text messaging would be a convenient source of additional information.
• Such a service would be particularly popular among younger people.
• Cell coverage is stronger and more complete for texting than it is for calling.
• Text messages would provide a record of information to which recipients could refer back.
• Reminders to take the antivirals were perceived by many as a good idea.

However, other participants expressed some concerns, such as:

• Text messaging is not accessible to all.
  • The elderly tend not to text.
  • Some people do not own cell phones.
• Frequent text messages cause people to disregard them.
• A high volume of text messages could overload the phone system.
• Cell coverage is poor in certain locations and in bad weather (MT).
• Text messaging would be unaffordable to some, unless the service is provided free of charge (CA).

Several participants offered other suggestions for maximizing the value of phone-based tools. One example is the importance of ensuring that the sender of the text messages is a reliable, neutral source. Another suggestion is to offer e-mails as well. Other participant ideas included (1) weaving in positive, reinforcing messages to support sick people’s emotional well-being; (2) providing an option to “stop” receiving text messages; and (3) offering text messaging as a free service.

The positive response of many participants at each site to the concept of an opt-in text-messaging system is reinforced by the ARS survey responses, in which many participants indicated they would like the option to receive text messages about the flu and the antiviral medications they were prescribed.

Policies for Allocating Scarce Antiviral Medications

Participants discussed whether, if antiviral medications are in short supply, the policy should be to limit distribution to members of groups identified as at high risk for complications or death. Participants also were asked to consider whether they would prefer an alternative allocation scheme such as “first come, first served” or a lottery. No additional information was presented to participants about how these different strategies could be implemented or about the trade-offs that each would entail.

Many participants at all three sites strongly supported the concept of directing scarce resources to people in greatest need who would benefit the most. Most of the reservations about this approach were expressed as a desire to create exemptions or exceptions to the rule for certain groups or under certain circumstances rather than a wholesale rejection of the idea. Several themes of the discussion across the three locations included that:

• Allocating scarce antivirals to people in high-risk groups:
  • Will save the most lives
  • Is equitable if applied consistently
  • Otherwise, people of means will have an unfair advantage in accessing treatment
• Trust in judgment of medical experts about high-risk designations is necessary and warranted
• Some groups—in addition to the high risk—should always receive priority:
  • Ideas varied ideas about which groups should qualify for this priority status (e.g., children, pregnant women, medical responders, elders)
• Anyone who is truly sick should be eligible to receive antivirals (CA, TN)

Some discussion in at least one location considered on other aspects of the issue of how to dispense antiviral medication in an atmosphere of scarcity, citing the idea that:

• People in high-risk groups should only receive scarce antivirals if they are likely to benefit (CA, TN).
• Determinations as to which populations are at high risk must be reliable (CA, MT).
• Local authorities should have a say in determining antiviral allocation, after taking into account CDC or state guidelines (CA, MT).
• Exceptions should be made for people with special medical conditions who are not within the identified high-risk groups (e.g., immunosuppressed, asthmatic) (CA).
• Incarcerated and institutionalized populations should not be excluded or disadvantaged by any allocation strategy (CA).

Several small-group discussions at all three community conversations recognized the merit of “first come, first served” and lotteries, but generally disfavored both of these allocation strategies. Lotteries were regarded by some as fair given their relative randomness and lower risk of discrimination against the powerless. But more participants saw lotteries as logistically difficult, potentially chaotic, and subject to gaming. Some also noted that, because randomizing distribution ignores potential risks and benefits, lotteries also are likely to waste scarce resources on people who do not need them. “First come, first served” was even less well regarded as an allocation strategy by many. Although some participants asserted that “first come, first served” might be fair in the sense that it removes third parties from the decision-making process, many participants were concerned that it would put certain populations at an unfair disadvantage while favoring those with the circumstances or means to access the system quickly and to their benefit.

Despite the general disapproval of “first come, first served” and lotteries, some participants suggested that these allocation approaches could be useful for distributing any remaining supply of medications once the high-risk groups have been treated or for allocating within a high-risk group if the supply of antivirals is so limited that it will not cover even that entire group.

The ARS survey responses for each session indicated a trend of support for allocating scarce antivirals to “people who need them the most,” consistent with the relative weight of individual participant views reported from the scenario discussions.

Provider Uniformity or Flexibility When Prescribing Scarce Antiviral Medications

The final question addressed by participants was whether all health care providers should follow the same rules when deciding who should receive scarce antiviral medications. Individual participants who agreed with this proposition also were asked to consider whether there are some circumstances under which individual health care providers should be allowed to make prescribing decisions that deviate from the rules. On the preliminary question, several strong themes emerged, including

• Consistency in decision making is essential for reasons of equity and promoting trust in the system.
• Provider adherence to guidelines is likely to result in more antiviral medications going to people who need them the most.
• Use of uniform prescribing guidelines is the most fair approach because the guidelines help prevent:
  • Discrimination
  • Favoritism by providers who have established patient relationships
  • Certain wealthy, powerful individuals from buying access
• The CDC and other health agencies can be trusted to use their expertise to set appropriate guidelines.

The question of whether it would ever be acceptable for providers to “go against the rules” elicited mixed reactions. Many participants asserted that allowing any flexibility would lead to too many exceptions and, in turn, unfair allocation decisions. Others believed that some flexibility in providers’ exercise of their professional judgment would be advantageous. Those in favor of flexibility recommended instituting controls such as guidelines that define when such flexibility would be warranted. Such guidelines should also clarify that exceptions to the rules are rare and must be based on reliable information about a patient’s condition rather than bias for or against certain individuals or groups. Other common suggestions were that providers should have the discretion to prescribe antivirals to people who are truly in need, or on the margins of a high-priority category (e.g., a 59-year-old if the cut-off were age 60 and above).

Several participants conveyed unsolicited thoughts about enforcement of prescribing guidelines during times of scarcity. Suggestions included creating a hotline or other system through which providers and the general public could report noncompliance, and establishing and enforcing sanctions against providers who break the rules.

Dispensing

Common themes discussed by several participants at each location related to expanding human resource capacity by recruiting workers and community members who normally would not play roles in the delivery of antiviral medications; using a variety of community settings as alternative distribution centers; and repurposing mobile resources to deliver antivirals to people in the community. Themes included

• using schools, libraries, post offices, senior centers, and places of worship as dispensing centers to increase convenience and relieve pressure on pharmacies;
• setting up drive-throughs at pharmacies to provide face-to-face contact with pharmacists while facilitating social distancing to prevent the spread of disease;
• setting up points of dispensing in key locations; and
• tapping into existing networks of community and government organizations to deliver antivirals to people who are sick at home.

Several participants in Fort Benton indicated that they would trust veterinarians to prescribe antiviral medications in order to expand prescribing capacity. Two minor themes raised at the Los Angeles session were (1) the need to regulate the distribution of antivirals to pharmacies so that every local community receives its fair share; and (2) the creation of a system through which people could return unused antiviral medications for distribution during times of shortages.

Communications and Outreach

Many participants at each location identified the importance of employing a wide assortment of communications tools—traditional media (e.g., television, radio, direct mail, billboards), new media (e.g., Twitter, Facebook), and Public Alert Networks (e.g., Reverse 9-1-1)—to push information about the pandemic and antiviral treatments out to the public. The use of varied communications tools was considered by many to be the most effective at reaching diverse audiences.

Other participants suggested deploying EMTs (emergency medical technicians) and other health care professionals to conduct information sessions in local neighborhood settings, and ensuring that communications will be accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have impaired vision. An idea from the Los Angeles session was to recruit celebrities to star in public service announcements, while many participants in Fort Benton recommended the promotion of word-of-mouth information-sharing strategies like phone trees. A Los Angeles participant also suggested developing a community support network to check on senior citizens to make sure they know how and when to take the antiviral medications that have been prescribed for them.

Preparedness Planning

Numerous participants at each site frequently noted the general need for public education and awareness prior to the onset of a flu pandemic; individual participants in Chattanooga recommended engaging the public in preparedness drills. Several in Los Angeles suggested previewing and getting buy-in from the community on any proposed dispensing plan through neighborhood councils. Another suggestion was to encourage prior credentialing and training of volunteers who could be deployed to respond to a pandemic.