NJ A1321

New Jersey Department of Health must revise its Pandemic Influenza Plan in consultation with the State Office of Emergency Management to expand coverage for long-running and large-scale pandemic emergencies.

Revised plan must align with federal HHS Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities standards and outline specific roles, succession plans, and operational responsibilities for each state agency during pandemic emergencies.

Department must coordinate pandemic response elements with local health departments and establish crisis standards of care to guide healthcare response statewide.

Plan must incorporate strategies to address health equity gaps identified during the COVID-19 pandemic and other pandemic influenza events.

Department must solicit input from the Governor's Office, local health departments, and public health stakeholders, with the plan subject to regular review and used to design emergency response training exercises.