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Biosecurity BriefingSecond NBSB Meeting Addresses Home Stockpiling and Personal Preparedness By Crystal Franco, June 20, 2008 On June 18, 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) held a meeting of the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB) to discuss “preparedness and planning issues related to at-risk populations and pandemic influenza, consider issues related to medical response and preparedness for radiological and nuclear events, and receive an update from the Federal Biosurveillance Working Group.”1 This is the second meeting of the NBSB, which was created under the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (P.L. 109-417) to “provide expert advice and guidance to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on scientific, technical, and other matters of special interest to HHS regarding activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to adverse health effects of public health emergencies resulting from chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological events, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate.” The inaugural meeting of the Board was held December 17-18, 2007.1 According to a Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Strategic Security Blog posting on June 19, the NBSB meeting discussions focused on the issue of “home stockpiling,” including whether “it is safe, effective, and worthwhile.” The newly appointed Director of HHS’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Dr. Robin Robinson led the day’s discussions on medical countermeasures, and solicited input from the Board “on what should be the right balance of government and personal strategies for preparedness.”2 The NBSB also received briefings from a number of experts on a range of issues. Captain Daniel Sosin from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) briefed the Board on CDC’s Draft National Biosurveillance Strategic Plan; Susan Cooper from the Tennessee Department of Health addressed the issue of vulnerable populations in a public health emergency; C. Norman Coleman from the Radiation Research Program at HHS and Richard J. Hatchett from the Radiation Countermeasures Research and Preparedness program at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) discussed the Radiation Management System and radiation countermeasures development; and Amy Patterson, Executive Director of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) provided an overview of the work of NSABB to the Board.2 As next steps, the NBSB decided to take a closer look at the issue of personal preparedness and home stockpiling. The Board will also be administering a new working group on Disaster Mental Health. The next meeting of the NBSB will be held in November 2008.2 References
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