Dear APIC Presidents and Chapter Legislative Representatives:
Today, President Bush outlined the characteristics of a national strategy on
the threat of Pandemic and Avian Influenza. APIC applauds the Administration
for their commitment to increasing U.S. vaccine production which includes improvement
to vaccine production technology. APIC in collaboration with other key stakeholders
will actively encourage the Administration to address the following weaknesses
in the funding of this plan:
- Funding for states, municipalities, and healthcare facilities
for contingency planning and surge capacity was not included
in the plan. Estimated need: $250 million
- Funding for improved availability of diagnostics and reagents
was not included in this plan. These funds are critical for
labs across the nation to identify emerging pandemic strains
in a specific locality. Estimated need: $75 million.
- Additional federal investment in state and local preparedness
activities totaling only $100 million leaves the states to
purchase $510 million worth of antiviral medications. Most
recently, the Senate provided $600 million for these activities
along with increasing surge capacity for the fiscal year
2006 Department of Defense appropriations bill and in the
fiscal year 2006, Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations
bill, both of which need to be finalized by conference committees
and the full Congress. Moreover, funding for general state
and local preparedness, cut in the House and Senate Labor,
Health and Human Services of up to $130 million has yet to
be restored.
- Greater communication efforts with all sectors of society
was inadequately funded and estimates range in the ballpark
of at least $150 million.
To access the written version of the President’s speech, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051101-1.html
To access the Fact Sheet: Safeguarding America Against Pandemic Influenza click
here http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051101.html
We encourage you to pass this along to your members and of course we will keep
you posted of our efforts. Thanks. |
