Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brian Baird, a Member of the House Science Committee, today briefed members of the media and the public on the effectiveness of current flu pandemic response plans.  Congressman Baird was joined by biosecurity, communications, and behavioral science experts, as well as Science Committee Ranking Member Bart Gordon (D-TN).   

“I want to ensure we are doing all we can to develop the life-saving vaccines and drugs we need before it is too late,” said Congressman Baird.  “We also need to look ahead to mutated strains and the next impending epidemic - the next SARS or the next Avian Flu - and determine what we can do now to safeguard Americans down the line.  The success of our response will depend a great deal on a host of other factors including anticipating people’s behavior and developing effective communication strategies.”    

The briefing highlighted gaps in the Administration’s current flu pandemic plans and explored ways to improve areas such as vaccine development, communication, and other public health measures.

“I cannot stress this enough – should a highly lethal form of flu surface in the next few years, the biological sciences – vaccines and other medicines – will not save us,” said Congressman Gordon.

The current Department of Health and Human Services plan for fighting influenza would leave the nation vulnerable for approximately three years while a limited stockpile of antivirals is acquired and vaccine production capacity is expanded. 

Currently, the Administration’s $7.1 billion plan calls for a “crash program” for combating influenza.   However, the target dates are distant.   The plan calls for stockpiling enough vaccine for 20 million people by 2009; stockpiling 75 million doses of antivirals to treat 25% of the population by 2007; and expanding emergency surge capacity for vaccine production by 2010 in order to be able to manufacture enough vaccine for all Americans within 6 months should a pandemic strike. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other scientists estimate that if Avian Flu becomes easily transmissible from human to human, 25-50% percent of the population would be infected.  In a severe pandemic, 10 million Americans could be hospitalized and 1.9 million could die. 

“Social scientists need to be part of the planning team, so that plans are based on science, not intuition,” said briefing participant Dr. Baruch Fischhoff of Carnegie Mellon University.  “Otherwise, citizens will receive advice that does not make sense to them, breeding distrust - like some of the hurricane evacuation messages.”

Congressman Baird helped introduce legislation in July to provide for a more rapid and nimble response to dangerous infectious diseases like influenza.  The Infectious Diseases Research and Development Act of 2005 (IDRDA) will fast-track FDA approval of vaccines and drugs for dangerous infectious diseases.  Due to a host of regulatory barriers and other such obstacles, it currently could take months to make a new vaccine widely available should a pandemic flu virus hit.   IDRDA will also provide incentives for creating vaccines and drugs to fight emerging infectious diseases. 

Rep. Baird holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and sits on the House Science Committee.

Congressman Baird engaging biosecurity, communications, and behavioral science experts in discussion at the flu briefing.

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