May 14, 2005, 07:01:29 AM PDT

On Thursday, the Health Services Agency (HSA) and other medical entities, including Doctors Medical Center, Emanuel Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, Oak Valley Hospital and Stanislaus Surgery Hospital, will conduct a simulated preparedness exercise to test the agency's plans and capabilities to ensure readiness and community preparedness procedures to mass dispense medication to prevent the spread of disease. Approximately 1,000 community volunteers of all ages are needed to role-play a mass vaccination exercise from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Stanislaus County Fairground in Turlock. The first 500 volunteers who register and attend will receive a free emergency preparedness kit valued at $50. Participants will also interact with emergency professionals to receive information to better prepare their families for an emergency.