Congressman Deal Questions HHS Secretary Sebelius on H1N1 Vaccine Availability

WASHINGTON- U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., Ranking Republican on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, today sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in response to current reports of the inability to meet initial distribution projections of the H1N1 vaccine.

Deal asked Sebelius “…what steps are being taken by the Administration to ensure adequate supply of the H1N1 vaccine is present for these targeted individuals and what safeguards are being put into place to ensure a shortage does not exist as eligibility requirements are expanded in the future?”

More than 540 Georgians have already been hospitalized and 27 people have died as a result of this virus.

Deal said he is not pointing fingers or seeking to place blame, he simply wanted to be able to tell Georgians when they might expect a sufficient supply of vaccine.

October 19, 2009

The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Secretary Sebelius:

I am writing to follow up on the status of our nation’s preparedness for combating the H1N1 flu as well as ongoing efforts to develop and distribute H1N1 vaccine doses to the public. As you know, over 540 Georgians have already been hospitalized and 27 people have lost their life as a result of this virus. Now listed as a state with ‘widespread’ outbreaks of H1N1 influenza, I as well as the citizens of Georgia remain acutely aware of the ongoing situation and the hazard for infection we face in carrying out our daily lives. It is with serious concern for the continued health of the citizens of Georgia, as well as those across our nation, I remain active in oversight of the federal coordination and response to this pandemic.

As you know, recent reports suggest that a slower-than-expected rate of production of the H1N1 vaccine is currently being experienced which will consequently result in fewer than anticipated doses being produced in the coming weeks. As a national effort to vaccinate individuals identified by the CDC to be at the highest risk for serious illness is currently underway, I am interested to know what steps are being taken by the Administration to ensure adequate supply of the H1N1 vaccine is present for these targeted individuals and what safeguards are being put into place to ensure a shortage does not exist as eligibility requirements are expanded in the future. As you recall, during the Energy and Commerce Committee hearing held in September, you indicated in response to my question pertaining to vaccine allocation to states that sufficient supply of vaccine will be available for the entire population. As a result of the aforementioned delays currently being experienced, is there sufficient evidence to suggest that your preliminary forecast should be revised? Furthermore, in your testimony, you indicated that states would receive allotments of the H1N1 vaccine as it is made available on a per capita basis. Have current shortages of the vaccine altered the method through which states are allocated available doses?

Thank you for your continued effort in combating this virus and ensuring the health and wellbeing of the American people. If I can be of assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to your immediate and timely response.

Respectfully,

Nathan Deal