The U.S. Health and Human Services Department announced plans yesterday to reassess the nation's attempts to produce vaccines and treatments for biological weapons and other public health threats, the Washington Post reported today (see GSN, Nov. 24).
(Dec. 2) -
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, shown last month, yesterday announced her department would conduct a broad assessment of the nation's efforts to prepare for biological-weapon attacks and other health threats (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images).
Production of H1N1 influenza vaccine has progressed more slowly than originally expected, placing attention on the government's over-reliance on outdated technology, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said yesterday.
"We'll look for the fastest ways to move new technologies that will let us quickly produce countermeasures that are more dependable and robust," Sebelius said, adding that the review would wrap up "early next year."
"Today, we face a wider range of public health threats than ever before in our history," she said at a health conference in Washington. "It could be anthrax delivered in an envelope. It could be a dirty bomb set off in a subway car."
To prepare for such developments, the nation must acquire modern, high-tech tools for diagnosing ailments and producing new vaccines and medical treatments, Sebelius said.
"But the countermeasure that saves the day during a quick-hitting public health emergency can often take years to discover, develop, manufacture and distribute," she said. "Like a lot of countries, we've often failed to make the kind of long-term investments in countermeasures we need to stay safe" (Rob Stein, Washington Post, Dec. 2).
A public health capacity must be developed "that is so dependable and comprehensive that it deters potential bioterrorism attacks and makes our enemies say: 'It's not worth the effort,'" she added (Ann Geracimos, Washington Times, Dec. 2).