National Preparedness Efforts to Address the Medical Needs of Children in a Chemical Biological Radiological or Nuclear Incident

The U.S. Government Accountability Office was asked about efforts to address the needs of children in the event of a CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) incident. This report examines (1) the percentage of CBRN medical countermeasures in the Strategic National Stockpile that are approved for pediatric use; (2) the challenges the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) faces in developing and acquiring CBRN medical countermeasures for the pediatric population, and the steps it is taking to address them; and (3) the ways that HHS has addressed the dispensing of pediatric medical countermeasures in its emergency response plans and guidance, and ways that state and local governments have addressed this issue.