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Discussion - FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

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Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Sharon, I am so glad that you are representing us. You created FT and it has flourished under your guidance and loving care. You and the others who began this journey have built it based on your collective values, standards and moral perspectives. This is why we have prospered.

Tom, Sharon will never back down from the standards she has developed here. She went to a similar session last year. She will never be duped by anyone. She is strong, confident and will do an excellent job. She will be watching the government participants and separating the wheat from the chaff. Have no fears that she will be unduly influenced by others. It is more then likely that she will influence them.

Congratulations, Sharon! Enjoy the next step in your journey to Washington.
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Leave us not forget that Sharon will not be alone. Mike Coston, our own Fla_Medic will be there too. I've spent a lot of time with Mike, and my life has been enriched for having done so. Mike can disarm anyone, deliver a clear message laced with self-deprecating humor that will leave you laughing your arse off, and then waking up to realize he was serious as a heart attack. He is a powerful ally.
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Tom has a good point.

As far as I can tell, this PCAST report is more-or-less a review and further recommendation from the one put together by the Working Group, dated June 17-18 and released in July. I don't think we had much discussion about that one. It is 100 pages long and well worth reading.
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120304

There is a 10 page list of participants from all fields and the CDC was well represented at the 2+ day meeting.

H1N1 COUNTERMEASURES STRATEGY AND DECISION-MAKING FORUM
DETAILED REPORT
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA WORKING GROUP (PIWG)
NATIONAL BIODEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

PCAST is an independent group advising the President and though it received CDC and outside government inoput came to its own conclusions. If you ask CDC if they are right, they will say yes. That is neither a shock nor a scandal. Sometimes they are right. Sometimes they have a narrow focus that needs widening.

I was among those "outside" who provided (very modest) input for a small part of the session, so one can safely assume that there were different opinions heard.

These are difficult issues to sort out and PCAST was a good faith effort to do so. There is an unfortunate tendency to assume deliberate manipulation when more times than not there is simply differing opinion. That's especially true about predictions, which we all know are accurate except when they are not. :rolleyes:

Do I know what's going to happpen next? I have no idea, and don't pretend otherwise. In any case, I will be joining Mike and Sharon in DC fwiw, and look forward to seeing them.
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

DemFromCT said:
PCAST is an independent group advising the President and though it received CDC and outside government inoput came to its own conclusions. If you ask CDC if they are right, they will say yes. That is neither a shock nor a scandal. Sometimes they are right. Sometimes they have a narrow focus that needs widening.

I was among those "outside" who provided (very modest) input for a small part of the session, so one can safely assume that there were different opinions heard.

These are difficult issues to sort out and PCAST was a good faith effort to do so. There is an unfortunate tendency to assume deliberate manipulation when more times than not there is simply differing opinion. That's especially true about predictions, which we all know are accurate except when they are not. :rolleyes:

Do I know what's going to happpen next? I have no idea, and don't pretend otherwise. In any case, I will be joining Mike and Sharon in DC fwiw, and look forward to seeing them.
Click to expand...

Yes, Dem, the PCAST effort was a great piece of work, and helpful in making certain that nothing is missed as we move forward with final preparations. The resulting response effort will likely be more robust as a consequence.

Having said that, PCAST probably gets a lower grade for communication of this work, and a lack of sensitivity as to its affect on public confidence of HHS and CDC. Just look at the posts on Flu Wiki. Lots of folks denegrating the CDC for its milktoast pandemic preparation efforts based on estimates that are significantly different than PCAST planning scenarios. I think this was an unintential result.

If there is anything all you guys can do in DC to help the effort, perhaps some advice on how to maintain public confidence in our public health authorities would pay dividends. In times of emergencies you need a clear, credible voice giving guidance to the public. Mixed signals, even when delivered with good intent, can cause unwanted public consterantion and confusion.
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

"PCAST probably gets a lower grade for communication of this work"

As the Chair, harold varmus, noted, the release mechanism for the report is above his pay grade.
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Best of luck Sharon & company. God put you where you are and where you will be for a reason. If given the opportunity I'm sure you will present the problem and the appropriate mitigations collected from around the world. Hopefully this will have the potential to save millions of lives, maybe even a politician or two.;)
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Ditto what Amish Country said.
We're all hoping for the very best outcome.
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Notes from the event:


General information about number of cases of the following conditions in the U.S. per year:

Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) - 5,585
miscarriage - 948,270
death due to any cause age 15-60 - 2,426,264
SIDS - 4,073
new and recurrent coronary attacks - 1,260,000
new and recurrent strokes - 795,000

Pre-existing conditions that seem to complicate the treatment of novel H1N1 09:

asthma,
COPD,
diabetes,
chronic CVD,
immunosupressed,
morbid obesity,
neurocognitive disease,
neuromuscular disease,
pregnancy


Priority groups for novel H1N1 09 vaccine:

health care workers and EMT,
pregnant women,
people who live with infants less than 6 months of age,
6 mo. to 24 years.,
24 years old to 64 years old who have medical conditions that increase risk for flu related complications.


Attendees (not a complete list):

Media -


ABC news
CBS news
NBC news
Reuters
Time Magazine
Flu Wiki
Avian Flu Diary
CIDRAP
NPR
CNN
USA Today
AP
Washington Times


Others -

Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of US HHS
Rear Admiral Anne Schuchat, M.D.
Bill Hall, Director Press Office, US HHS
Jenny Backus, Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs US HHS
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Bruce Gellin, M.D., MPH, Director - National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO)
Jesse Goodman, M.D., MPH, Chief Science Officer and Deputy Commissioner (Acting) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Nicole Lurie, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response for US HHS
John Brennen, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism


It was a tabletop exercise in which a few scenarios regarding pandemic and vaccine issues were played out.

I was extremely impressed with the level of interest and involvement of all participants.

It was apparent that the U.S. officials present are concerned about the situation. They were engaged and responsive.

It is a daunting task at hand.

So what do we do about this?

How can we help in this disease emergency?

What is the bottom line?

Hope.

That despite the bad news there is a way out.

Another solution. Another path.

That we will survive this challenge. And we will be stronger.

We will do this by reaching out - hand to hand - millions of us. Together.

Find a friend. One that you have something in common with. Work. Church. Neighborhood. Music. Laughter.

Someone who you trust to watch your children if you need to go to work and the schools are closed.

Practice hand washing, social distancing, and talk to your doctor about a vitamin regime that might include vitamin D.

Get a few essential items that you need everyday and put them away. Prescription Drugs, for instance.

Remember that FluTrackers is there for you. We are a Charity.

We will publish the stories, articles, facts, and studies that will help you.

We will try to find solutions to the problems.

You are not alone.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzoNInZ2ClQ
 
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Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

So it will be what will be.
What was already intended to be traced.

It seems that heart illnesses didn't enter the pre-existing conditions,
and that elderly with pre-existing condition will not be on the first priority vaccine list.

Thanks FT for it's continuous real time insights.

Special thanks to you Florida1 for your efforts and strenght to partecipate there even during a sensitive private situation.

My best health wishes to all.
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Thanks for the update!
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

So no prioritization for 6-24 year old's with underlying health conditions? I thought school aged children were supposed to spread this?
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Andy2000 said:
So no prioritization for 6-24 year old's with underlying health conditions? I thought school aged children were supposed to spread this?
Click to expand...

No enaugh vaccines and probably not in time for the scholars pushed to already start a school year, so probably they will be all exposed before the vaccines came.

So: no schools closures + no vaccines = more spreadings to all (from public facilities, family working members, to everywhere) ...
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Ok, surely everybody didn't go clear to Washington just to hear (mostly) old news that's been repeated multiple times or that which a quick Google search would turn up.

So please tell us the good stuff. What were the details of the tabletop exercise and how did the different scenarios turn out?
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Thanks Florida1 for the update.
We're been wondering what was discussed.

I'm surprised too that school aged children and people with heart conditions aren't in the priority list.
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Florida 1,
I didn't want to sound cynical in my last post. It seems from what you say the media session was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to have an engaging exchange of ideas on how combat this real world event that's occuring in real time, in every country of the world. I think this shows how important flutrackers has become as a source of information and collaboration.
I have however been dismayed by the lack of any discussion over school closure, any vaccine prioritization for our youth with underlying conditions and the inability to publish absenteeism records even by state. Was there any dicussion about this guidance given PCAST's prediction of 30,000-90,000 thousands deaths with a sizeable percentage occuring in the young who are not hit this way by seasonal influenza?
Andy
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Discussions during the three exercise modules were off the record so that federal officials could freely discuss their responses to potential communications problems.
Click to expand...

"Off the record" used to mean that information wasn't to be published. If the media truly agreed to keep the results of the tabletop exercises from the public, then how can any of them ever expect us to trust them?!

What's wrong with telling us now how they will respond??
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Andy2000 said:
So no prioritization for 6-24 year old's with underlying health conditions? I thought school aged children were supposed to spread this?
Click to expand...

Sorry Andy - I made a typo. It is 6 mo. - 24 years old. Not 24 mo.
 
Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

Re: FluTrackers Invited to Washington D.C. to Media Session on H1N1

tolenio said:
Hi,

Read the link... Wow!

We really, really want to communicate with the public, so everything is "off the record".

It is to the point where whatever the government says it would be very wise to be suspicous, and analyze it for hidden agendas from 100 angles.

Zero trust - confirmed. So the FT visit was very productive for me and I was not even there. The lack of information coming out of the meeting speaks volumes.

Tom
Click to expand...


You need to get a grip.

There are no big secrets here. There were a couple of scenarios. Then the press was asked how they would report it. These responses ran the range of "Hey - we will mention it" to "We will cover that extensively". With so many media there, I frankly can not remember which media said what.

The government officials mostly listened. They were attentive and the concern for the situation showed on their faces.

Obviously you have a great mistrust for the government.
 
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