Study: Medical countermeasures not up to par for children in emergencies

AAP Gateway, a department of the American Association of Pediatrics, released a report for February shedding light onto the ongoing problem regarding medical countermeasures (MCM) during emergencies, disasters and terrorism.

While major outlets that specialize in MCMs have made headway, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), AAP Gateway’s report warns that MCMs for children are woefully underprepared compared to adults. AAP Gateway released a series of recommendations to combat this growing issue if MCMs become necessary.

The report outlines what federal and state governments could do to prepare for any emergencies. Federal, state and local governments should first acquire an adequate amount of MCMs appropriate for all children, the report says. Secondly, federal agencies should partner with private industry to research and develop MCMs for all public health emergencies. Third, biomedical research funded by the federal government should include reasonable steps to accommodate the special protections afforded to children as human subjects. Finally, government and private industry should address the needs of children in MCM implementation, distribution and administration planning.

Additionally, the report states that the federal government should proactively identify anticipated uses of MCMs in children during a public health emergency where pediatric FDA-approved indications do not exist.

There has been no timetable given by federal agencies on whether implementation could happen.