Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

[sharon sanders]

Please join us for a special edition of PlanFirst, featuring HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt – October 29 1:00 EDT

What: Every level of government and sector of society is responsible for preparing now for an influenza pandemic. The media buzz around “bird flu” has died down but the H5NI virus has not. We must continue to prepare our Nation for a flu pandemic.

Secretary Leavitt will provide formal remarks regarding the Nation’s pandemic planning effort. He will then join a roundtable discussion to address the Nation’s level of preparedness and related issues. As, always, our guests, including Secretary Leavitt, will take questions from the viewing audience.

Speakers will include:

§Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
§Dr. Bill Raub, Science Advisor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
§Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota
§Maggie Fox, Editor-in-Charge, Health and Science, Reuters

When:Wednesday, October 29 1:00 pm EDT

Where: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/news/panflu_webinar.html

How:Registration is not required. Click on the website above at 1pm on Wednesday, October 29. Please note, you will need Flash (http://www.adobe.com) installed on your computer in order to view the live video stream. You can test your ability to view the Flash video stream starting at 10 am EDT on the day of the webcast at the address listed above. If you are unable to view this live stream in Flash format you can view the Flash video-on-demand of the event that will be made available shortly after the broadcast.

Email your questions for the webcast panelists before and/orduring the program to hhsstudio@hhs.gov. Pleaseinclude your first name, state andtown.

This pandemic influenza planning webcast is brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

[gsgs]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

1EDT , that's 18.00 UTC , in 5.5 hours ?


I assume that none of these will give their panflu probability estimate.

Leavitt ignored earlier last year on http://blog.pandemicflu.gov/
Osterholm doesn't even reply to email
I don't remember Raub's position on this
I think, reporters/editors earn money from articles and are not
interested in discussion which they consider counterproductive
to their career, unless they moderate the discussion.

[sharon sanders]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

I think it is great they are doing these various webcasts, blogs, online interviews, etc.

It is a model for government interaction with citizens.

Send in a question!

[mixin]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

Dialup net service:

[sharon sanders]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

I have a presentation at an university this afternoon so I will not be posting any notes about this webcast.

And - I agree. Dial-up is

[Shiloh]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/con...08webcast.html

Experts at HHS webinar cite key pandemic planning issues

Lisa Schnirring * Staff Writer

Oct 29, 2008 (CIDRAP News) ? The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today hosted an online conversation among experts, government officials, and members of the public that touched on emerging issues in pandemic planning, such as anticipating supply chain interruptions and keeping the momentum going during tough economic times.

At the beginning of the webcast, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt made some opening remarks that focused on what the agency has accomplished, especially since the release of the HHS's Pandemic Influenza Plan in 2005.

Leavitt also spoke to the transitions that will likely occur over the next few months as the Bush administration winds down and a new administration takes over. He said during his tenure, the HHS has planned for 15 different disaster scenarios, including pandemic influenza.

"We're due for a pandemic, but regrettably, we're still somewhat underprepared," he said. Leading the nation's pandemic preparedness efforts has required a delicate balance, Leavitt added. "You want to stimulate preparedness, but not panic."

He said two events loom large during his years as HHS secretary: the re-emergence of H5N1 avian influenza virus and hurricane Katrina. The storm response was, "a remarkable shakedown of our national response plan," Leavitt said.

In terms of pandemic preparedness, Leavitt emphasized a list of the agency's accomplishments, which include an H5N1 vaccine with aggressive efforts under way to expand vaccine production technology and capacity, an antiviral stockpile that has been amplified by a state purchase incentive plan, new diagnostic testing systems, and an array of regional pandemic planning summits and formal exercises.

"I think we can finish our service better prepared, especially since 2005, but there is still a great deal to do," he said.

Leavitt said he has four recommendations for the next HHS secretary, "sort of a note on the desk," he said:

* Finish work on new vaccine facilities.
* Strongly defend the global influenza virus-sharing network.
* Continue work on countermeasure distribution, which he said is currently the "Achilles heel" of bioterror response planning.
* Remind states, businesses, and families about their responsibility to help prepare for an influenza pandemic.

On the vaccine-sharing issue, Leavitt said he understands the concerns that Indonesia and other countries have about access to affordable H5N1 vaccines, but he said Indonesia's apparent demand of financial compensation for sharing virus samples is a "dangerous proposition" that could open the door to endless demands.

The compensation demand promotes a vaccine scarcity mentality, Leavitt said, "but we need to pursue an abundance mentality."

After Leavitt spoke he joined the panel discussion group, which included Maggie Fox, health and science editor for Reuters news service, Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, director of the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, which publishes CIDRAP News, and William Raub, PhD, Leavitt's science advisor.

Some of the online viewers asked the panelists how individuals and corporations can better prepare for a pandemic. Leavitt and Osterholm advised viewers to keep the issue alive by keeping dialogues on the topic going with local and state government officials.

Osterholm said the private sector has so far failed in its pandemic planning efforts, because businesses haven't taken their plans to the next level, such as establishing back-up plans in case supply chains collapse, which could have more severe effects than the pandemic virus itself. "They have to play like a chess master, and plan the next 8 to 10 moves down the board," he said.

See also:

HHS PlanFirst Webcast site

HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan

[gsgs]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

why should we be "due" for a pandemic ?
doesn't make sense to me.


If he knows that we are due, than he should also know,
for which strain we are due.

[Shiloh]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...bsfDw&refer=us
Withheld Bird Flu Samples Endanger World, U.S. Says (Update1)

By Simeon Bennett

Oct. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. should continue to oppose countries that expose the world to ``even more danger'' by demanding payment in return for sharing samples of H5N1 bird flu, said the U.S. government's outgoing top health official.

Michael Leavitt, preparing to step down as U.S. secretary of health and human services after next week's presidential elections, urged his successor to ``strongly defend'' a 60-year practice of countries sharing virus samples for free, according to the text of a speech in Washington yesterday.

Indonesia began withholding avian-flu virus samples in December 2006, saying the pathogens are its intellectual property. The country has demanded access to affordable drugs for Asia in exchange for sharing the H5N1 samples. Doctors can't produce up- to-date vaccines without the latest versions.

``Once compensation is paid, there will be no end to demands, and the system will fail, subjecting every one in the world to even more danger,'' according to the speech, which was e-mailed to Bloomberg News. The text didn't name specific countries.

Indonesia's Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said in a text message that the practice of virus-sharing supported by the U.S. and the World Health Organization is an unjust example of ``neoliberal capitalism'' that favors developed nations such as the U.S. and should be changed.

World Peace

``Developing countries realize that the system created by the U.S. at WHO for the past 60 years is merely for pharmaceutical trading for developed countries,'' Supari said. ``Such a system is no longer suited to attain world peace and welfare.''

At least 387 people in 15 countries have been infected with the H5N1 strain of the avian-flu virus since 2003, according to the Geneva-based WHO. Almost two of every three cases were fatal. So far this year, 36 cases have been reported, down from 74 in the first 10 months of 2007. About four-fifths of human cases have occurred in Asia.

Leavitt, 57, has been secretary of health since January 2005. He delivered the speech in a Webcast.

To contact the reporter on this story: Simeon Bennett in Singapore at sbennett9@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: October 30, 2008 05:50 EDT

[mixin]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

No one listened to this?

[gsgs]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

I was following the chess game and then forgot

[sharon sanders]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

I saw the first 20 minutes then I had to leave.

Senior Moderator Fla Medic watched the entire program:

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Personal Preparedness Stressed At Today's HHS Webcast



# 2430


During today's HHS PlanFirst webcast Secretary Leavitt stressed, repeatedly, the need for personal preparedness as he and a panel consisting of Dr. William Raub (Science Advisor to Secretary Leavitt), Dr. Michael Osterholm (Director of CIDRAP), and Health and Science editor Maggie Fox of Reuters discussed the nation's pandemic preparedness.



The broadcast began with a speech by Secretary Leavitt, where he discussed the increased scope of responsibility for the HHS since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, with a newfound emphasis on emergency response.

One of the most worrisome events that the HHS is planning for is a pandemic, and while the odds of one starting in any given year may be low, another pandemic Leavitt assured, is inevitable.

Calling the 1918 pandemic `mindboggling', he reminded the audience that in New York City alone, some 21,000 children became orphans due to the Spanish Flu.

Talking about a future pandemic, Leavitt warned, "The world is overdue, and regrettably we're still somewhat under prepared."

Among the advances made over the past 3 years Secretary Leavitt listed the fact that there are now six companies in various stages of preparing to manufacture vaccines here in the United States.

He noted that investments made by the Federal government in cell-based vaccine technology, along with grants to improve conventional manufacturing capacity, would allow us to produce domestically enough vaccine by 2011 to vaccinate all Americans within six months of a pandemic outbreak.

We now have 26 million doses of pre-pandemic vaccine on hand for first responders, and we have 50 million (10 pill) courses of antivirals in the Federal Stockpile, and the States have purchased another 22 million courses.

Leavitt reiterated his well known mantra:

"Any community that fails to prepare with the expectation that somehow the federal government will come to their rescue at the last moment will be tragically disappointed."

Secretary Leavitt listed advances made towards developing rapid tests for detecting the H5N1 virus, along with other influenza strains. He went on to say that the HHS had assisted more than 40 nations in their pandemic planning, as well.

Leavitt listed four pandemic planning priorities he would like to pass on to his successor.

• First, that the next HHS Secretary will need to make sure that $600 million in vaccine contracts let this year for the construction of cell-based vaccine plants are fulfilled, and the plants are actually built.

• As a second priority, next Secretary should `defend strongly, the virus sample sharing network' and not allow temporary opportunism to allow nations to hold the system hostage.

• The third priority is to concentrate on countermeasure distribution. He warned that while the Strategic Stockpile could deliver supplies within 12 hours to nearly any area of the nation, not all states are capable of distributing them.

• And the fourth priority is to continually remind states, businesses, and families about their responsibility to be prepared. This is, he said, a `never-ending task'.

He warned that public health is a state and local responsibility, and that states legislatures are failing to adequately fund local public health programs.


Leavitt said he hoped to release a state-by-state evaluation before he leaves his post early next year, showing which states are adequately meeting their funding obligations.

He then stressed:

"For the world to be prepared, every nation, every city, every business, every school, every hospital, every clinic, every church, and every household needs a plan. We need to exercise them and we need to practice them."

Secretary Leavitt then joined the panel of Dr. Raub, Dr. Osterholm, and Maggie Fox where they took questions via email, and discussed them.



Dr. Raub stressed the theme of `shared responsibility'. Federal governments, state governments, local governments, not-for profit organizations, and businesses large and small must all work together to prepare for a pandemic.

Dr. Michael Osterholm was asked about his statement (see I've Hit The Wall):

"I've finally come to the conclusion that, as a nation, we don't have and can't find either the political will or private-sector commitment needed to address our pandemic preparedness challenges of today. To make matters worse, other national governments and their private-sector enterprises are not making meaningful progress in preparing for the next influenza pandemic, either. In the US, we have a national pandemic influenza plan, but it doesn't even begin to address the disastrous implications of a collapsing global just-in-time economy." Michael Osterholm - Sept 11th, 2008

Osterholm gave the example of a recent study that showed that of 19 essential drugs used in this country, that 95% were manufactured offshore, and in a pandemic would likely become in short supply or become unavailable.

He cautioned that the number of people who could die from these sorts of collateral effects might exceed those who succumbed to the virus.


Email questions started off with "What can private citizens do to encourage local officials to discuss pandemic issues?"

Secretary Leavitt immediately stated he encourages people to do their own preparedness; that people should be prepared for any disaster.

He recommended that citizens let their local, state, and national representatives know that they should make preparedness a high priority.

Dr. Raub and Dr. Osterholm both echoed the need for local investment in pandemic preparedness.

When asked what would be the impact if private business failed to prepare for a pandemic, Dr. Osterholm stated he believed many already had failed. That while they have held meetings and discussions, they have not taken it to the `next level'.

What happens when their suppliers are unable to funnel supplies to them? What happens if local utilities are down?


Osterholm stated that `We need to challenge the private sector much more", to step up and take responsibility for pandemic planning. He stated that he was worried that the current financial crisis was causing some companies to take `pandemic planning off the table'.

A question directed to Maggie Fox asked, "What social responsibility does the media have in covering a mass public health disaster?"

Fox replied that, "the responsibility of the media is to report the news, but that these interests coincide in something like a pandemic because there are local news stations and newspapers who are informing their neighborhoods."

Fox then asked the panel what can we do, besides talking a lot, to get people to prepare for a pandemic.

Dr. Osterholm admitted it is hard to describe a pandemic.

That he could talk about why coal supplies might be jeopardized during a pandemic, which means electricity might be jeopardized - but most people would think it was far-fetched.

Still, he insists, the supply chain is razor thin, and a failure of the grid would be a huge public health issue.

Secretary Leavitt then stated we needed to `continue to focus on individual preparedness - that there are constant manifestations of the need for it - every time there is a serious storm that affects peoples lives, it is personal preparedness that ultimately spells the difference'.

Secretary Leavitt went on to say:

`We need to continue to use every opportunity to talk about individual preparedness. Yes the government needs to play a role, at the state, federal and local level . . . but people have a responsibility and it is the aggregate of their actions that will ultimately determine whether we are prepared or not. "

During the 75 minute long presentation the panel addressed such diverse questions as `What measures has the HHS taken to coordinate its current pandemic plans with US embassies to extend protection to U.S. citizens abroad?" and (from Maggie Fox) "What happens if we are successful in stopping the H5N1 virus? How do we keep people willing to stay prepared for the next threat?"


The last question to the panel was what should families do to plan today?

While acknowledging the financial difficulties that families are having in this economy, the need to prepare is real. Even if you can't afford to stockpile food right now, you can at least be making a family plan, advised Dr. Osterholm.

Dr. Osterholm also stressed that citizens need to voice their concerns over the importance of pandemic (and all-hazards) preparations to their local, state, and national elected officials.

Secretary Leavitt finished by saying "There is no replacement for individual preparedness. Having a small stockpile of food is a very good idea . . .for reasons other than pandemic. Having a little water, having a stockpile of medicines, that could last you an extra week or two if you can't go out of your home . . is a very good idea.

This is not just about pandemics, this is wise management and risk management for any family . . . and every family should do it to the extent they find possible. . ."



This latest video presentation will be archive on the HHS Website in 5 to 7 days.


If you've missed any of the earlier editions of the PlanFirst webcast, they are archived as well.

Previous PlanFirst Webcasts


Individual Preparedness (September 25, 2008) - 57 minutes

• Admiral Joxel Garcia, HHS
• Dr. Richard Benjamin, American Red Cross
• Harlan Dolgin, PandemicPrep.org
• Tim Woerther, PandemicPrep.org

Home Health Care Agencies Planning (July 8, 2008) - 57 minutes

• Alexis Silver, Home Care Association of New York State
• Geraldine A. Coyle, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• James G. Hodge, Jr., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Workplace Preparation (June 4 2008) - 46 minutes

• Andrew Levinson, Department of Labor

New Federal guidance for State Pandemic Planning Assessments (April 30, 2008) - 65 minutes

• Dr. Francisco Averhoff, CDC
• Ms. Dana Carr, Department of Education
• Ms. Barbara Bingham, Department of Labor

New Federal guidance for State Pandemic Planning Assessments (April 2, 2008) - 76 minutes

• Dr. Dan Jernigan, CDC
• Colonel Dan Bochicchio, National Guard
• Ms. Joan Harris, Department of Transportation
• Captain Ann Knebel, HHS

New Federal guidance for State Pandemic Planning Assessments (March 13, 2008) 68 minutes

• Dr. William F. Raub, HHS
• Ms. Barbara Bingham, Department of Labor
• Dr. Christa-Marie Singleton, CDC
• Paul Strang, Department of Homeland Security
• Chris Logan, National Governors Association

Posted by FLA_MEDIC at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/10/personal-preparedness-stressed-at-today.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2008-10-29T18:31:00-04:00">6:31 PM</abbr>

[sharon sanders]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

FluTrackers.com submiitted 2 questions that were addressed (from Fla Medic's summary above):

"A question directed to Maggie Fox asked, "What social responsibility does the media have in covering a mass public health disaster?"

Fox replied that, 'the responsibility of the media is to report the news, but that these interests coincide in something like a pandemic because there are local news stations and newspapers who are informing their neighborhoods.'"

and -


"The last question to the panel was what should families do to plan today?

While acknowledging the financial difficulties that families are having in this economy, the need to prepare is real. Even if you can't afford to stockpile food right now, you can at least be making a family plan, advised Dr. Osterholm.

Dr. Osterholm also stressed that citizens need to voice their concerns over the importance of pandemic (and all-hazards) preparations to their local, state, and national elected officials.

Secretary Leavitt finished by saying 'There is no replacement for individual preparedness. Having a small stockpile of food is a very good idea . . .for reasons other than pandemic. Having a little water, having a stockpile of medicines, that could last you an extra week or two if you can't go out of your home . . is a very good idea.

This is not just about pandemics, this is wise management and risk management for any family . . . and every family should do it to the extent they find possible. . .'".

[mixin]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

Thanks for the summary. I tried to listen but it was next to impossible.

Maggie Fox's report should be good, also.

[gsgs]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

Leavitt points out:

> We now have 26 million doses of pre-pandemic vaccine on hand
> for first responders, and we have 50 million (10 pill) courses of
> antivirals in the Federal Stockpile, and the States have purchased
> another 22 million courses.

and then he several times mentions how important individual preparedness
is. And he suggests ...
Having a small stockpile of food

ahh, then why doesn't the Feds make a little stockpile of food instead
and let the individuals buy some vaccine and antivirals ?

If vaccine/antivirals are useful, then individuals having
vaccine,antivirals should also be good, or not ?

Is it maybe, that the Feds want the _power_ to decide who gets
it in a pandemic (i.e. government friendly people, essential people)
and so they don't like additional private vaccine and antivirals ?

[JJackson]

Re: Sec. Leavitt and Michael Osterholm Online Today - Roundtable Discussion

I missed a little at the start but watched the rest.
I thought he was good on the whole I was pleased with the emphasis on switch the to cell based but was not clear on how the government was going to ensure this. It is one thing to hand out grants to research and another to expect companies to switch production away from egg based if there is no financial incentive to do so.
I do not wish to get too political but thought his digs at Indonesia's position very one sided. Would Indonesia have felt the need to embark on this course if US IP law had not started allowing the patenting of biological sequences?
I sent in a question asking how well the panel thought the US would fare, in a severe pandemic, if they had a 100&#37; effective vaccine for every citizen but their global trading partners didn't? But it was not used.