Smallpox Response Resources

Important

Customize Materials. You will need to customize materials with information about your agency or location, and real-time details about the emergency situation.

Work with your PIO. Always work with your assigned public information staff on communication issues.

Not required. Use of these materials is not required. They were developed as resources to help in public health emergency planning and response. Always consult your agency's emergency plans and policies, and follow appropriate Incident Command System procedures.

Questions? We will continue to add resources to this site as they are developed. Please direct questions regarding this site or emergency communication resources to DOH.Information@doh.wa.gov.

Links to Other Sites

The tools in this section will help you communicate during an outbreak of smallpox whether occurring naturally or intentionally.

Coordinate all media contact with your assigned public information staff and follow your agency's emergency communications procedures.

News Releases. These news release templates contain areas to customize with information about:

  • your location,
  • details about the specific situation,
  • locations of medication or treatment centers,
  • updated case and fatality numbers,
  • quotes from local officials or
  • your contact information.

Important note: These are samples only. Do not use without updating for your specific agency. Some of these templates contain information about symptoms; check with your health officer or medical director to make sure they are accurate for the real-time situation.

News Release: Smallpox confirmed
This news release template was designed to be used when smallpox has been confirmed.

News Release: Medication centers established
This news release template was designed to announce the establishment of medication centers that will distribute medication or vaccines or provide treatment.

News Release: Case/fatality update
This news release template was designed to be used each time the number of confirmed cases and number of fatalities is updated.

News Release: Additional medication centers
This news release template was designed to be used when additional medication centers are opened.

Fact sheets and talking points.

Fact sheet: Smallpox
Facts about smallpox: descriptions of symptoms and treatment and instructions for preventing exposure. A Word version of this fact sheet is available in Spanish. (Translations are also available in PDF format in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese.)

Additional information about smallpox
This information is for you to incorporate into new releases, fact sheets and other materials you may produce during the emergency.

Information specific to the smallpox vaccine.