H1N1 in Tennessee
2011
This case study focuses on public health challenges state officials faced during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic in Tennessee. It explores the mobilization of public-private partnerships to prepare for the “second wave” of the disease in 2010, and the challenges to address difficulties such as vaccine delivery, communicating with an anxious public, and managing a surge of patients seeking care. Students learn methods for preparing for a significant public health emergency and the difficulties of coordinating a response involving multiple jurisdictions and a mix of actors from both the public and private sectors.
The case is part of a series produced by the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Case Program, hosted by the HKS Strengthening Learning and Teaching Excellence (SLATE) initiative, the world’s largest producer and repository of case studies designed for teaching about how government works and how public policy is made. Each case in the series is designed to train public leaders, and introduces actual policy dilemmas along with data to equip students to learn how to apply the rigor of quantitative analysis in the real world.
This case may be purchased for a nominal fee; registered educators may obtain a free review copy. Online supplemental resources include short free documents and videos on how to teach with the case method, as well as downloadable related tip sheets and questions for class discussion.
Source:
Giles D. Tennessee Responds to the 2009 Novel H1N1 Influenza A Pandemic. HKS Case No. 1941.0. Harvard Kennedy School Case Program 2011. http://case.hks.harvard.edu/tennessee-responds-to-the-2009-novel-h1n1-influenza-a-pandemic.