Pandemic Flu and Other Infectious Diseases

Medical and public health experts have warned that the avian flu currently circulating throughout Asia, Africa and Europe could be the source of a deadly global influenza pandemic. Based on historical trends, virologists and epidemiologists predict a flu pandemic will emerge three to four times each century, and if it occurs soon, our country may not be adequately prepared. Though considerable progress has been made in the last two years, much more must be done to be prepared for a pandemic. Areas of prioritization include:

• Enhancing coordination of scientific studies to explore all promising research.


• Improving seasonal flu vaccine distribution to avoid regional shortages and as an exercise for testing pandemic response.


• Increasing seasonal flu vaccination, especially among health providers, to create base immunity.


• Accelerating and prioritizing public education and risk communication.


• Ensuring timely implementation of the strategies contained in the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan.


• Securing the final installment of the President's pandemic flu funding request, and maintaining funding for state and local health department pandemic preparedness.

More information at www.pandemicfluandyou.org

Reports

Pandemic Influenza: Warning, Children At-Risk (October 2007)

Correspondence to Policymakers

Working Group on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Letter Urges Congress to Fund Pandemic Preparedness in FY 2009 (March 2008)
Read the letter

Letter of support for the Influenza Vaccine Security Act (December 2007)
Read the letter

Trust for America's Health and American Academy of Pediatrics letter to Congress introducing 'Pandemic Influenza: Warning, Children At-Risk' (November 2007)
Read the letter

Working Group on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness letter urges Congress to fund pandemic preparedness at House-passed levels (October 2007)
Read the letter

Working Group on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness urges Congress to fund pandemic preparedness in the FY08 appropriations bills (June 2007)
Read the letter

Working Group on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness letter urges Congress to fund pandemic preparedness in the FY07 Emergency Supplemental (April 2007)
Read the letter

Letter of support for the Healthy Families Act, highlighting that sick and family leave would be critical for containing a possible pandemic flu outbreak (February 2007)
Read press release

Letter in support of the Kennedy vaccine injury compensation funding amendment to HR 4939, (May 2006)
Senate Letter

Letters in Support of Flu Preparedness Funding in FY 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill (May 2006)
TFAH Letter
Working Group on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Letter

Testimony

Public Comments of Trust for America's Health in Response to Proposed Changes to Family & Medical Leave Act (March 2008)
Read comments by Jeff Levi, PhD, Executive Director, Trust for America's Health

Written Testimony of Jeff Levi, PhD, Executive Director, Trust for America's Health, Submitted to U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Education and Labor (June 2007)
Balancing Work and Family: What Policies Best Support American Families?

Written Testimony of Alonzo Plough, MA, MPH, PhD Member, Board of Directors of Trust for America's Health, Submitted to U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform (May 2006)
Working Through an Outbreak: Pandemic Flu Planning and Continuity of Operations

Written testimony on Pandemic Flu Preparedness from The Honorable Lowell Weicker, Jr., President of the Board, Trust for America's Health (January 2006)
Senate Labor-HHS Subcommittee