Department of Health and Senior Services Commissioner Clifton R. Lacy, M.D. will discuss how  $40.9 million in federal funding will be used to advance the state’s health emergency preparedness and response plan.

The press availability will be held Friday, Sept. 5 in the Department of Health and Senior Services auditorium at 11:30 a.m.

Joining Dr. Lacy will be  James S. Blumenstock, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Public Health Protection and Prevention Programs/Emergency Preparedness and Response; Lester Jargowsky, Public Health Coordinator for the Monmouth County Health Department, and Gary Carter, President/CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association.

The $40.9 million includes $27 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for public health infrastructure improvements and $13.8 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration to enhance hospital and health care system emergency preparedness.

Part of the $27 million from the CDC includes funding for smallpox preparedness and for the Strategic National Stockpile, which is a program to rapidly distribute pharmaceuticals in case of a public health emergency.

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