Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
HHS Deputy Secretary Azar Joins Blunt at Missouri Pandemic Planning Summit
ST. LOUIS–Acknowledging that pandemics happen and require a strong local response, Gov. Matt Blunt and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Alex Azar signed a resolution, committing the state and federal government to planning efforts. They did so before an audience of public health officials, business and community leaders, gathered to address pandemic flu preparedness. Azar is in Missouri as part of a national tour of states, as the federal government prepares the country for a potential influenza pandemic.
“Pandemics are global in nature but their effects are always local, so I am pleased that Governor Blunt is taking a leadership role to prepare Missouri for this threat,” Azar said. “Pandemic planning needs to address how schools, businesses, public agencies, faith-based organizations and others participate in pandemic preparedness. With this meeting, local officials can identify needs specific to Missouri communities and begin crucial coordination to assure readiness if a pandemic outbreak strikes.”
“Today’s summit exemplifies the cooperation and coordination we would require if faced with an influenza pandemic,” said Blunt. “I am encouraged that today we are laying the foundation and solidifying partnerships to better protect Missouri’s citizens. Every level of government, every level of emergency responders, and every health care institution and agency must be prepared to work together to form an effective response.”
In the planning resolution, HHS commits to providing guidance and technical assistance to Missouri and an initial amount of financial assistance for planning, $1,890,782; and agrees to review the state’s plans for use, storage and distribution of antivirals and notify it of its portion of the federal stockpile of pandemic influenza antiviral drugs. Missouri agrees to assure that its operational plan for pandemic influenza response is an integral element of the overall state and local emergency response plan and to establish a Pandemic Preparedness Coordinating Committee representing all relevant stakeholders. The state will also notify HHS of the amount of additional pandemic influenza antiviral drugs it will plan to purchase and will exercise its preparedness plan within six months of today’s summit.
Blunt noted that Missouri has already taken significant steps to prepare for public health emergencies, including improved disease investigation, laboratory testing and public health and medical care response capabilities. Missouri’s pandemic influenza plan builds on an established system of disease response often used during disease outbreaks, and is only one component of an all hazards emergency response plan designed to guide the response for any emergency.
The event is Missouri’s first statewide gathering to address pandemic readiness planning, and will give a broad range of organizations an opportunity to participate in the process. Invited guests include first responders, business leaders, educators, health care providers, faith-based organizations, volunteer agencies, policy makers and others.
Last year Azar outlined a series of in-state summits to address pandemic preparedness. The in-state summits will help the public health and emergency response community in each state inform and involve their political, economic and community leadership in this process. Azar and other top HHS officials will participate in the meetings over the next few months. HHS has also prepared tools to help with the planning process, including a state and local checklist, a business checklist, a guide for individuals and families, and a checklist for faith-based organizations. The guides were distributed at the summit.
More information on pandemic flu readiness is available at www.pandemicflu.gov.
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