For Release: Immediately
Date: May 23, 2007
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343
STATEMENT BY MIKE LEAVITT
Secretary of Health and Human Services
On the World Health Assembly Resolution on
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Sharing of Influenza Viruses and
Access to Vaccines and Other Benefits
I am pleased the World Health Assembly has adopted a resolution on
pandemic influenza preparedness that makes clear that Member States must
continue to share influenza specimens and viruses with the World Health
Organization's (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance Network.
I am also pleased that the resolution emphasizes the need for increased
vaccine access. We have invested heavily in the development of new
vaccine technologies that will benefit the international community. The
United States strongly supports the WHO's efforts to meet the long-term
global need for an influenza vaccine through the Global Pandemic
Influenza Action Plan to Increase Vaccine Supply, and has provided $10
million to this effort. In addition, the United States is committed to
working with Member States and the WHO to explore other avenues to meet
the near-term need for greater access to influenza vaccines, including
pre-pandemic vaccines.
The open and rapid sharing of influenza samples ensures that the global
public health community maintains critical pandemic influenza
preparedness and response activities, including the development and
production of pandemic influenza vaccines. Withholding influenza
viruses from the Global Influenza Surveillance Network greatly threatens
global public health and is inconsistent with the spirit of the legal
obligations we have all agreed to undertake through our adherence to the
International Health Regulations.
The United States works with the WHO and international partners
throughout the world to enhance global surveillance and pandemic
preparedness. This collaboration is based on four important principles:
(1) transparency; (2) rapid reporting; (3) sharing of data; and (4)
scientific cooperation. In that spirit, we continue to call on
countries everywhere to share influenza samples openly and rapidly,
without preconditions.
Pandemics happen. It is a fact of biology, a fact of the unseen world of
viruses, which are constantly mutating, adapting, and attacking. In a
pandemic, time matters -- and lives are at stake. All nations will
benefit and have a responsibility to fully participate in the WHO's
efforts to prepare for an influenza pandemic.
</pre>
Date: May 23, 2007
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343
STATEMENT BY MIKE LEAVITT
Secretary of Health and Human Services
On the World Health Assembly Resolution on
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Sharing of Influenza Viruses and
Access to Vaccines and Other Benefits
I am pleased the World Health Assembly has adopted a resolution on
pandemic influenza preparedness that makes clear that Member States must
continue to share influenza specimens and viruses with the World Health
Organization's (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance Network.
I am also pleased that the resolution emphasizes the need for increased
vaccine access. We have invested heavily in the development of new
vaccine technologies that will benefit the international community. The
United States strongly supports the WHO's efforts to meet the long-term
global need for an influenza vaccine through the Global Pandemic
Influenza Action Plan to Increase Vaccine Supply, and has provided $10
million to this effort. In addition, the United States is committed to
working with Member States and the WHO to explore other avenues to meet
the near-term need for greater access to influenza vaccines, including
pre-pandemic vaccines.
The open and rapid sharing of influenza samples ensures that the global
public health community maintains critical pandemic influenza
preparedness and response activities, including the development and
production of pandemic influenza vaccines. Withholding influenza
viruses from the Global Influenza Surveillance Network greatly threatens
global public health and is inconsistent with the spirit of the legal
obligations we have all agreed to undertake through our adherence to the
International Health Regulations.
The United States works with the WHO and international partners
throughout the world to enhance global surveillance and pandemic
preparedness. This collaboration is based on four important principles:
(1) transparency; (2) rapid reporting; (3) sharing of data; and (4)
scientific cooperation. In that spirit, we continue to call on
countries everywhere to share influenza samples openly and rapidly,
without preconditions.
Pandemics happen. It is a fact of biology, a fact of the unseen world of
viruses, which are constantly mutating, adapting, and attacking. In a
pandemic, time matters -- and lives are at stake. All nations will
benefit and have a responsibility to fully participate in the WHO's
efforts to prepare for an influenza pandemic.
</pre>
Comment