What this is for: Developing plans for personnel, including ground and air medical transport providers, managers of EMS agencies, EMS medical directors, local and state EMS systems, local and state health departments, healthcare facilities, and others involved in the interfacility (including intrastate or interstate), transport of persons under investigation (PUIs) or patients with confirmed Ebola virus disease (Ebola).

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) this week released their cost estimate of the S. 1915 First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act.

Under the bill, anthrax vaccines from the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile would be provided to first responders who volunteer to receive them, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would establish a tracking system for the vaccine and would provide educational outreach for the program.

Vaccines nearing the end of their labeled dates would be prioritized for utilization under the Act.