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.
Since its beginning, the stockpile has responded to multiple large-scale emergencies 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.
2024 – H5N1 Bird Flu
- Providing a range of personal protective equipment (PPE) to jurisdictions with a demonstrated need
- Making oseltamivir (Tamiflu) available to jurisdictions without their own stockpiles to treat symptomatic persons with confirmed or suspected exposure
2022-24 - Mpox
- Supporting the National Mpox Vaccine Strategy and a comprehensive government public health response
- Deployed vaccines and therapeutics to states and major metropolitan areas to support communities affected by mpox
- As of August 2024, shipped over 1 million vials of the JYNNEOS vaccine and over 40,000 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 liasons 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 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 Ebola Virus
- Deployed 64 staff members to support response at CDC Emergency Operations Center, 5 U.S. airports, and several countries in Western Africa
2014 - Botulism Outbreak & Ebola Virus
- Provided Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent to Ohio
- 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
