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Stockpile Responses

 

History

The National Pharmaceutical Stockpile was created in 1999 to ensure the nation's readiness against potential agents of bioterrorism like botulism, anthrax, smallpox, plague, viral hemorrhagic fevers, and tularemia. The mission was to assemble large quantities of essential medical supplies that could be delivered to states and communities during the emergency within 12 hours of the federal decision to use the stockpile.

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks prompted federal legislation and directives to strengthen public health emergency readiness. In 2003, the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile was renamed Strategic National Stockpile. 
 

The stockpile has supported more than 65 public health emergency responses including floods, hurricanes, and influenza pandemics. It has also supported various small-scale deployments for the treatment of individuals with life-threatening infectious diseases like anthrax, smallpox, and botulism. The SNS also trains about 4,000 state and local responders annually on receiving and distributing stockpiled medicines and supplies. 
 

2024 –2025 H5N1 Bird Flu 
 

  • Provided a range of personal protective equipment (PPE) to jurisdictions with a demonstrated need

  • Made oseltamivir (Tamiflu) available to jurisdictions without their own stockpiles to treat symptomatic persons with confirmed or suspected exposure

2022-2025 – Monkeypox

  • Supported the National Monkeypox Vaccine Strategy and a comprehensive government public health response

  • Deployed vaccines and therapeutics to states and major metropolitan areas to support communities affected by monkeypox

  • Shipped over 1 million vials of the JYNNEOS vaccine and over 41,000 treatment courses of TPOXX, TEMBEXA, and VIG-IV

2020-2023 – COVID-19

  • Shipped 27,535 tons of cargo: 748 flights / 5,745 trucks

  • Assigned over 200 staffers to the HHS Special Operations Center

  • Engaged 411 private industry partners to obtain & deliver supplies

  • Supported the National Vaccination Campaign

  • Provided supplies for 1.32 billion doses of vaccines, booster doses, & epinephrine

  • Expanded and enhanced SNS capabilities to respond to emerging infectious disease

  • Provided critical PPE & medical supplies to emergency intake sites for migrants and refugees

2019 – Hurricane Dorian

  • Deployed medical supplies to support responders with ASPR's National Disaster Medical System

  • Deployed liaisons to the HHS Secretary's Operations Center

  • Assigned approximately 50 staffers to the SNS operations center 
     

2017 – Zika & Hurricanes Harvey, Irma & Maria

  • Arrived within 48 hours of deployment orders

  • Engaged over 120 SNS personnel over the course of these responses

  • Purchased & deployed $4.5 million in supplies (26 flights, 347 tons of cargo)

  • Coordinated with HHS Secretary's Operation Center & Incident Response Coordination Team

  • Established a 10,000 sq ft medical distribution center

  • Deployed vaccines & medical supplies to the USVI & Puerto Rico

  • Coordinated delivery of refrigerators, 42,000 MREs, and 177,000 bottles of water 
     

2016 – Zika

  • Collaborated with the CDC Foundation to source prevention products and educational materials

  • Rapidly assembled & delivered approximately 31,000 Zika Prevention Kits

  • Initiated contracts for mosquito control efforts 
     

2015 – Botulism Outbreak

  • Provided Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent to Ohio

2014-2015 – Ebola Virus 

  • Deployed 64 staff members to support response at CDC Emergency Operations Center, 5 U.S. airports, and several countries in Western Africa

  • Coordinated between Ebola Treatment Centers and commercial suppliers

  • Established a small stockpile of PPE to meet short-term needs 
     

2012 – Hurricanes Isaac and Sandy 

  • Deployed FMS to New Jersey and New York & Commissioned Corps Officers to staff the FMS

  • Deployed FMS to Louisiana 
     

2011 – Hurricane Irene 

  • Deployed FMS and FMS Strike Teams

2010 – North Dakota Flooding and Hurricane Alex

  • Deployed FMS and FMS Strike Teams 
     

2009 – H1N1 Pandemic Influenza and North Dakota Flooding

  • Shipped influenza antiviral medications to 62 areas in 7 days

  • Responded to over 1,300 requests for Peramivir IV

  • Deployed FMS to North Dakota 
     

2008 – Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

  • Deployed approximately 6,000 beds to five states (Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, & Texas) in a 30-day period

2005 – Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

In response to requests from Louisiana and Mississippi related to Hurricane Katrina, the stockpile:

  • Sent 3,500 FMS beds & FMS Strike Teams

  • Delivered over 130,000 vaccines & 30,000 vials of insulin

  • Provided pain medications & re-hydration fluids

  • Shipped 28 ventilator kits

2001 – World Trade Center and Anthrax Attacks

  • Deployed pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to New York City within 7 hours on September 11, 2001

  • Delivered anthrax countermeasures to over 50 sites across the nation within 5 hours of threat identification 

     

Contact Us

For further questions or information about the Strategic National Stockpile, please email us at sns.ops@hhs.gov