Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

------------------------------------------------------------

September 18, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Action Plan for the United States: 2002 Update"

Clinical Infectious Diseases

(www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/home.html) (09/01/02) Vol. 35, No. 5, P. 590; Strikas, Raymond A.; Wallace, Gregory S.; Myers, Martin G.

Influenza pandemics have occurred at irregular intervals for the last 300 years or more, including three in the last 100 years. Future pandemics characterized by deaths, hospitalizations, social disruption, and public unrest are likely to occur.  U.S preparation should center on quick initial assessment of disease impact, capability for flexible response to differing levels of disease, and consideration of world impact.  The three major aims of a response plan would be to limit burden of disease, limit the resulting social disruption, and to lower the amount of economic losses caused by the pandemic.  Early influenza detection and efficacious tracking can best be achieved by bolstering national and worldwide capacities for virologic and disease surveillance. Assisting local officials in coming up with preparedness plans and establishing clinical guidelines for management of influenza pandemics are among the ways the national government can improve readiness.  Additional preparedness can be achieved by strengthening public health practice, infrastructure, and research pertaining to the disease.  Some ways of meeting the objectives include promoting the implementation of adult immunization programs, starting communication networks and protocol for quick release of information to public health officials, and developing strong applied research programs aimed at influenza epidemics.

Vaccination News Home Page

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.