Hundreds of San Luis Obispo County employees received a shot in the arm Thursday as part of a mass vaccination drill utilizing the employees and emergency first-responders.

The purpose of the drill was to test the capacity of the county Health Agency to administer vaccines rapidly to large numbers of people during a significant public health threat to the community.

Drill participants received their annual flu shot during the simulation held at fire departments in Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay and Paso Robles.

Vaccines were administered for three straight hours in the morning and for another three hours in the afternoon. The vaccine used during the drill was purchased by the county and only given to county employees, emergency first-responders and their families.

Health emergencies that could require a mass vaccination of the public involve situations where a large number of people have been exposed to a disease or toxic agent - anthrax, smallpox, influenza or the plague - that could make them sick, according to Health Agency officials.

The Health Agency conducted a similar drill involving county employees and vaccinations in 2006 at the San Luis Obispo Veteran's Memorial Hall.

November 14, 2008

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