October 2007

In this issue:

• TFAH Releases Obesity Report and Hosts Congressional Briefing
• TFAH Releases Report on Pandemic Flu and Children
• TFAH Details Vision for a Healthier America

TFAH Releases Report on Pandemic Flu and Children

In October, TFAH and the American Academy of Pediatrics released an issue brief titled Pandemic Influenza: Warning, Children At-Risk.  The brief explores the unique vulnerabilities children would face in the event of a flu pandemic and provides policy recommendations for reducing the impact of pandemic flu on children.  Among the highlights of these recommendations are the following:

• The federal government should conduct additional studies on vaccine efficacy in young children, support the development of additional flu vaccine products, and conduct more studies of antiviral agents for infants.
  
  
• The federal government should ensure that the Strategic National Stockpile includes sufficient pediatric doses of antiviral medications to ensure treatment of 25 percent of the nation’s children and teens, or 18.4 million individuals.
  
  
• Schools should educate students in infection control and make available psychologists and grief counselors to help students cope with illness and loss.
  
  
• Educators and school administrators should remind families that public health experts recommend annual flu vaccines for: 1) all children with high risk conditions who are 6 months of age or older; 2) all healthy children ages 6 months through 59 months; 3) all household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children with high risk conditions and of children younger than 5 years of age; and 4) all healthcare professionals.

An online version is available at: http://healthyamericans.org/reports/fluchildren/

On October 24th, TFAH’s Executive Director Jeff Levi participated in a Congressional briefing regarding the important role wildlife surveillance systems play in detecting emerging infectious diseases.  TFAH highlighted the ways in which surveillance fits into our larger effort on pandemic response. Other speakers included Representatives Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and individuals from the Wildlife Conservation Society and National Geographic Society.

TFAH Details Vision for a Healthier America

Following TFAH’s Healthier America Summit this past June, a gathering of national leaders committed to making disease prevention and protection from public health threats national priorities, TFAH released a document that details its vision and agenda for a healthier America. The document provides a template for federal leadership and action that place wellness and prevention at the center of America’s health strategy.  It discusses key components for a National Prevention Strategy including: leadership and accountability; funding; tools and knowledge needed for the implementation of the Strategy; the elimination of health disparities; and actions needed to address chronic disease, environmental health, infectious disease and health disaster preparedness.  It has been endorsed by over 105 national, state and local organizations.

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