H1N1 Flu

Content on this page was developed during the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic and has not been updated.

The H1N1 virus that caused that pandemic is now a regular human flu virus and continues to circulate seasonally worldwide.
The English language content on this website is being archived for historic and reference purposes only.
For current, updated information on seasonal flu, including information about H1N1, see the CDC Seasonal Flu website.

Tools and Models to Estimate Staffing

Several tools exist to plan staffing for clinics: The BERM Model, the Maryland Model, Maxi-Vac and RealOpt. The BERM and Maryland models are similar in that they ask the user to specify how many persons need to be vaccinated over what period of time, and to select assumptions regarding time to move through different stations. Based on that, the model determines the number of staff needed. Maxi-Vac, in contrast, asks the user to specify how many staff are available, and based on that provides the optimal placement of staff and estimates the maximum number of persons that can be vaccinated. The Maryland model allows the user to plan a clinic designed for dispensing drugs or for administering influenza vaccination (adult and children). The BERM and Maxi-Vac models are based on smallpox vaccination clinics and can be tailored for influenza vaccination by turning off the medical screening and orientation stations. RealOpt is versatile in that it can be used to optimize clinic staffing based on a desired patient throughput, or provide an estimated throughput based on the staffing available. It also includes drive through and fixed facility designs for Points of Dispensing (PODs) and vaccination clinics. It is important to note that there will be variations in staffing needs that may not be accounted for by these models. For example, local data entry requirements may vary hence staff requirements will vary, and the need for security may vary depending on local circumstances.