Things to Know About PODs

• POD locations are public places that will be easily accessible to the public.

• A POD does not provide treatment for ill persons.  PODs only provide preventive medication.

• If you are already sick you will not be allowed access to a POD. Instead, you should go to your local hospital, urgent care, or primary care physician for treatment.

 

Important Terms and Definitions:

• Biological agent is a bacteria, toxin, or virus that may be used in a bioterrorism attack.
• Dispensing is the process of giving medication.
• Administration the act of dispensing, giving, or applying something, usually a vaccine
• Bioterrorism is a terrorist attack that makes use of a biological agent as a weapon.
• Infectious diseases are caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites; the diseases can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another.
• Mass prophylaxis is the capability to protect the health of a population through administration or dispensing of vaccine or medication to large numbers of people.
• Pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that has spread through human populations across a large region.
• Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is the United States’ national repository of antibiotics, vaccines, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, and other critical medical equipment and supplies. The SNS will stock each POD with the necessary medication needed for the specific emergency.

 

A POD is not:

• A shelter
• A place to seek emergency medical services
• A clinic