Due to the H1N1 vaccine shortages, the federal government is taking a look at its emergency preparedness plans as it relates to public health emergencies. The Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has called for the review:
The government review — expected to be completed in early 2010 — will examine all aspects of public health emergencies, including terrorist attacks and natural disasters. But the catalyst for the call to action was H1N1, said Nicole Lurie, MD, MSPH, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS, who is leading the review.
Dr. Lurie urged physicians and the public not to expect sweeping reform immediately.
“In four months we can’t fix everything. … But we can take a systems perspective, look at where the most vulnerable points in the system are, and look at the kinds of policies and investments we need to make to address those things,” she said in an interview.
Yet another announcement has been made by the government that it cannot help everyone in emergencies, this time in public health emergencies. Therefore, it’s necessary for you to prepare for those emergencies yourself. Do you have basic medical supplies on hand to aid you and your family if there are disease outbreaks?
Source:
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/12/14/prl11214.htm
