The FDNY will hold a Department-wide drill across the City tomorrow -- simulating the outbreak of a contagious biological agent that requires the vaccination of every on-duty firefighter and EMS member.

Tomorrow, the Department will be administering a mock vaccine to nearly 6,000 on-duty firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics from 11 stationary locations throughout the five boroughs, as well as one mobile unit.

The fifth-annual exercise called BIOPOD 2007 is designed to test and evaluate the FDNY’s bio-terrorism preparedness in distributing preventive medication to thousands of members in the event of a widespread exposure to a biological agent.

The exercise is part of the FDNY’s continuing initiative in planning its response to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive incidents. The one-day drill is conducted by the FDNY Bureau of Health Services in conjunction with the FDNY Bureau of Operations and is part of the City’s overall emergency response plan that combines the efforts of the FDNY with other City agencies including the NYPD and the City’s Office of Emergency Management.

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Press Contact: Francis X. Gribbon & Seth E. Andrews, (FDNY) (718) 999-2056

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny