Is Bush doing enough to prepare us for the bird flu?

[Arkie]

Bush outlines $7.1 billion flu pandemic strategy
Program calls for enough vaccine to protect 20 million Americans

Updated: 11:33 a.m. ET Nov. 1, 2005
WASHINGTON - President Bush outlined a $7.1 billion strategy Tuesday to prepare for the danger of a pandemic influenza outbreak, saying he wanted to stockpile enough vaccine to protect 20 million Americans against the current strain of bird flu.

The president also said the United States must approve liability protection for the makers of lifesaving vaccines. He said the number of American vaccine manufacturers has plummeted because the industry has been hit with a flood of lawsuits.

Bush said no one knows when or where a deadly strain of flu will strike but “at some point we are likely to face another pandemic.”

The president, in a speech at the National Institutes of Health, said the United States must be prepared to detect outbreaks anywhere in the world, stockpile vaccines and anti-viral drugs and be ready to respond at the federal, state and local levels in the event a pandemic reaches the United States.

Bush outlined a strategy that would cost $7.1 billion including:

$1.2 billion for the government to buy enough doses of the vaccine against the current strain of bird flu to protect 20 million Americans; the administration wants to have sufficient vaccine for front-line emergency personnel and at-risk populations, including military personnel
$1 billion to stockpile more anti-viral drugs that lessen the severity of the flu symptoms
$2.8 billion to speed the development of vaccines as new strains emerge, a process that now takes months
$583 million for states and local governments to prepare emergency plans to respond to an outbreak
Bush said a pandemic flu would be far more serious than the seasonal flu that makes hundreds of thousands of people sick ever year and sends people to their doctors for a flu shot. “I had mine,” Bush said. Unlike seasonal flu, pandemic flu can kill people who are young and healthy as well as those who are frail and sick, he said.

In asking Congress for money to buy vaccine, Bush said the vaccine “would not be a perfect match to the pandemic flu because the pandemic strain would probably differ somewhat from the avian flu virus it grew from. But a vaccine against the current avian flu virus would likely offer some protection against a pandemic strain and possibly save many lives in the first critical months of an outbreak.”

'Fair warning'
He also said the United States was increasing stockpiles of antiviral drugs, such as Tamiflu and Relenza. Such drugs cannot prevent people from catching the flu, but they can reduce the severity of the illness when taken within 48 hours of getting sick, he said.

“At this moment there is no pandemic influenza in the United States or the world, but if history is our guide there’s reason to be concerned,” Bush said. “In the last century, our country and the world have been hit by three influenza pandemics, and viruses from birds contributed to all of them.”

He pointed out that the 1918 pandemic killed over a half million Americans and more than 20 million people across the globe. “One-third of the U.S. population was infected, and life expectancy in our country was reduced by 13 years.

“The 1918 pandemic was followed by pandemics in 1957 and 1968, which killed tens of thousands of Americans and millions across the world,” Bush said.

Bird flu has been documented in Asia and has spread to Europe but has not reached the United States, the president said. “Our country has been given fair warning of this danger to our homeland and time to prepare,” he said.

Bush said the cornerstone of his strategy was to develop new technologies to produce new vaccines quickly. “If a pandemic strikes, our country must have a surge capacity in place that will allow us to bring a new vaccine online quickly and manufacture enough to immunize every American against the pandemic strain,” Bush said.

The principal goal of Bush’s plan, Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt said, “is the capacity for every American to have a vaccine in the case of a pandemic, no matter what the virus is.”

“There is no reason to believe that in the next day or two or week or month that that’s going to occur,” Leavitt said on CBS’s “The Early Show.” But he added that “we do need to be ready in case it begins to mutate into a human transmissable disease.”

Stockpiling shots
Pandemics strike when the easy-to-mutate influenza virus shifts to a strain that people have never experienced before, something that has happened three times in the last century. While it is impossible to say when the next super-flu will strike, concern is growing that the bird flu strain known as H5N1 could trigger one if it mutates to start spreading easily among people. Since 2003, at least 62 people in Southeast Asia have died from H5N1; most regularly handled poultry.

The nation’s strategy starts with attempting to spot an outbreak abroad early and working to contain it before it reaches the United States.

Today, most of the world’s vaccine against regular winter flu, including much of that used by Americans each flu season, is manufactured in factories in Britain and Europe.

The government already has ordered $162.5 million worth of vaccine to be made and stockpiled against the Asian bird flu, more than half to be made in a U.S. factory.

But the administration plan, to be released in more detail on Wednesday, calls for more than stockpiling shots. It will stress a new method of manufacturing flu vaccines — growing the virus to make them in easy-to-handle cell cultures instead of today’s cumbersome process that uses millions of chicken eggs — as well as incentives for new U.S.-based vaccine factories to open.

Such steps will take several years to implement, but the hope is that eventually they could allow production of enough vaccine to go around within six months of a pandemic’s start.

[Rascal]

It's hard to say till the plan is in action and something happens, but it sure is nice to see a proactive response from the federal gov't on any level instead of waiting for the smoke to become an inferno.

Unfortunately this is probably being pushed heavily by pharmaceutical companies, but unbiased reports seem to indicate that this buildup is warranted. If that wasn't the case I would be suspiscous to say the least.

Looks like it will also help in creating better labs to deal with the standard flu virus every year. Think I saw on CBS the other day how our labs are basically using '60's technology.

[enjolras]

*waits for the 'But Rumsfeld has over a million dollars in stock related to the bird flu vaccine' insanity..*

[alkemical]

to back that up:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...NGHTDE8LG1.DTL

http://www.gilead.com/wt/sec/pr_933190157/

[bendog]

I dunno. Faux had a guy on saying that neither tamaflu or the vaccine we have now will do much good, and we have to find a way to produce 4x the doses via dna manipulation not involving chicken eggs, so this could be a positive move.

[Rascal]

tamaflu acts more as a time giver then anything...it slows it down but it doesn't stop it.

Same goes as the flu vaccine according to my father who is a pharmacist.

[bendog]

I thought with the shot, your symptoms were less, which is true also for tamaflu. The pediatrican says don't get the kid the shot, but haul her in fast if she gets the flu. The shot cannot be tailored directly to a strain as it has to be produced so far in advance (takes so long). So, what I got was they're looking for a new means production and a way to tailor the immunization closer to the dna of the mutated virus.

[Hotrod]

Originally Posted by Rascal

tamaflu acts more as a time giver then anything...it slows it down but it doesn't stop it.

Same goes as the flu vaccine according to my father who is a pharmacist.

Tamaflu also must be taken within 48 hours of first coming into contact. Most symptoms dont show until what 24-48 hours

[elsid13]

IT very complex problem, and I don't think the nation health system is ready for it. Hopefully it won't hit this year, and won't be forced to back burner by the public or elected officals if doesn't hit. And think of the really scary thing, North American and Western Europe health care system are more advance and ready then rest of the world, would really suck to be there.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Is Bush doing enough to prepare us for the bird flu?

We already know that what Bush says and what he does are usually two different things.

Bush will probably make sure the wealthiest 1%, his loyal friends, and his biggest campaign donors get the vaccine, and screw everybody else.

Not convinced?

Then I direct you to his response to Katrina.

[bendog]

Originally Posted by elsid13

IT very complex problem, and I don't think the nation health system is ready for it. Hopefully it won't hit this year, and won't be forced to back burner by the public or elected officals if doesn't hit. And think of the really scary thing, North American and Western Europe health care system are more advance and ready then rest of the world, would really suck to be there.

Hopefully it won't shift to the back. From what I've read, it's prolly inevitable that the flu will mutate to being transferred human to human, but the chances of a flu like 1918 happening this year are slim because we are already into the beginning of flu season, and there's been no such mutation.

[Rascal]

I think it's going to hit in 2008 to be honest, possibly 2007.

In 2006 we are going to hear about some human to human transfers but not very many. In 2007 we are going to see a significant rise to maybe a full epidemic but for sure by 2008 IMO.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by Rascal

I think it's going to hit in 2008 to be honest, possibly 2007.

In 2006 we are going to hear about some human to human transfers but not very many. In 2007 we are going to see a significant rise to maybe a full epidemic but for sure by 2008 IMO.

My sis is an M.D. in the military whose specialty is infectious diseases.

Her best guess is that we'll see it here in 3-4 years.

[Rascal]

Well then Bush is doing a good thing by getting us prepared now.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by Rascal

Well then Bush is doing a good thing by getting us prepared now.

A good thing if he actually delivers and doesn't botch the job.

[Rascal]

Pretty sure it's out of his hands now.

[bendog]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1102/p02s01-ussc.html

Looks reasonable to me.

ps, how long is tamaflu good for. I had the flu last xmas and the doc asked me if I wanted a prescrip, but I said no. I think it runs me around 75bucks, but if I get it again, would it be worth it to get the prescrip and hold it?

[Rascal]

I quit reading that article after the fourth paragraph. Why they asked a lawyer about the flu pandemic is ludicrous.

So we should compromise our own capacity and resources to help countries which have neglected it themselves...uh no. Call me insensitive bastard or what but I don't care...America first, allies second, rest of the world last.

[bendog]

Originally Posted by Rascal

I quit reading that article after the fourth paragraph. Why they asked a lawyer about the flu pandemic is ludicrous.

So we should compromise our own capacity and resources to help countries which have neglected it themselves...uh no. Call me insensitive bastard or what but I don't care...America first, allies second, rest of the world last.

I agree. Not that helping the rest of the world isn't a good thing, but look to our own house first. I posted the link cause I was thinking, "welll if this is the criticism, the plan may be a step forward."

[Rascal]

Originally Posted by bendog

I agree. Not that helping the rest of the world isn't a good thing, but look to our own house first. I posted the link cause I was thinking, "welll if this is the criticism, the plan may be a step forward."

ah.

[errand]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

We already know that what Bush says and what he does are usually two different things.

Bush will probably make sure the wealthiest 1%, his loyal friends, and his biggest campaign donors get the vaccine, and screw everybody else.

Not convinced?

Then I direct you to his response to Katrina.

So are you saying Ted Kennedy, George Soros, Michael Moore, John Kerry, and Howard Dean won't get the vaccine? Something tells me they'll get their shots too....just like they did when anthrax was all over the news.

..I suppose it never occurred to you to take of your self instead of relying on the federal government to do it for you.

BTW, if the people of New Orleans didn't care about their city.......why should anyone else?

[errand]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

My sis is an M.D. in the military whose specialty is infectious diseases.

Her best guess is that we'll see it here in 3-4 years.

Well, according to you and your cronies, you clowns will be in power.....but why does a little voice in my head tell me that if it hits in 3-4 years, Bush will be blamed for anything that goes wrong afterwards?

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by errand

So are you saying Ted Kennedy, George Soros, Michael Moore, John Kerry, and Howard Dean won't get the vaccine?

How did you get this out of "then I direct you to his [the chimp's] response to Katrina?"

Originally Posted by errand

Something tells me they'll get their shots too....just like they did when anthrax was all over the news.

Well, since high-profile Dems were specific targets of the anthrax attacks, (whose perps, BTW, have still not been brought to justice by BushCo) it was only appropriate that they should get the vaccine.

Originally Posted by errand

..I suppose it never occurred to you to take of your self instead of relying on the federal government to do it for you.

This from a resident of a red welfare queen state which receives more $$$ in federal aid each year than it produces in revenues?

That's a hoot!

Bottom line: When it comes to relying on the federal government in an emergency, republi-bubbas like you are dead set against it - until the emergency affects you personally.

Originally Posted by errand

BTW, if the people of New Orleans didn't care about their city.......why should anyone else?

Congrats - you just took the OM politics forum's blue ribbon for the most asinine comment of the year.