Pandemic Flu Introduction

Health and emergency agencies across the region are preparing to respond to a potential influenza pandemic. A successful response to a pandemic outbreak in the region depends on citizens playing an active and predictable role in the region’s response.

However, citizens may not act as predicted. Instead, they may act on a set of public values and personal concerns, which are not always clear to health officials.

How can plans for a pandemic flu response be brought into sync with public values so that public health directions and actions will be understood, supported, and followed by the public?

Explore how One KC Voice plans to engage citizens on ways the region should prepare to respond to an influenza pandemic and how citizens will partner with public health officials to execute an emergency plan.

Fourteen citizen forums took place around the region during November 2006, and more extended into early 2007. The first round of meetings are examining what values and concerns would guide the actions of the public in an emergency. The second engagement round invited citizens who participated in the first to workshops with health officials where they will recommend actions for a regional pandemic flu plan based on public health standards and the values identified by citizens.

The health departments will use these public discussions to modify their pandemic plans and develop a communications strategy that will be effective and meet citizens’ needs in the event of a pandemic.