Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)

Protecting the public’s health through the Strategic National Stockpile

In a public health emergency, authorities such as the Federal government and the State of Hawaii will take action to safeguard state residents and visitors. The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) plays an integral part in such an effort by planning for and operating emergency distribution of lifesaving pharmaceuticals and other devices.

This is done in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), which has created a Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) designed to distribute pharmaceuticals and antidotes to protect the American public in the event of a natural disaster, bioterror attack, or pandemic. This cache can be sent quickly to any state if local hospitals and pharmacies will not have enough medical countermeasures to meet the general public’s demand. These are often distributed through so-called PODs.

What is a POD?

A POD (Point of Distribution) site is a location where you can go to get medications or vaccines during a public health emergency. POD sites are typically set up in familiar and easily accessible locations, such as schools and community centers, etc.

Routine medical care is not provided in a POD. Instead, the sole purpose of a POD is to distribute medication or vaccine quickly to large numbers of people during a public health emergency to prevent illness.

During a public health emergency, such as a disease outbreak or bioterrorism event, DOH will be tasked with opening PODs to provide medications, vaccines, or medical supplies to anyone in the community who has been exposed to the disease.

DOH’s Office of Public Health Preparedness works to protect the public’s health during large scale disease outbreaks or a bioterrorism event. This includes pre-event planning and relationship building with community partners, private industry, and other agencies to identify and plan and train staff for PODs before an emergency ever happens.

Getting medicine during a public health emergency

During a public health emergency, DOH will open PODs to quickly get medication, vaccines, or medicinal supplies to the people affected by the emergency. POD location details will be available on the Hawai’i DOH website.

Everyone going through a POD must complete an Emergency Medication Screening Form. In order to assist with this process, we have developed an online screening tool that allows you to enter important and required information to generate a voucher. The screening tool will also tell you which POD is closest to you. This voucher can be taken to the location identified to receive the medication.

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Last reviewed December 2021