[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 166 (Friday, August 27, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52698-52699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19285]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Draft Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO), Department of 
Health and Human Services, has drafted a plan to guide national 
preparedness and response to an influenza pandemic. The draft Pandemic 
Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan articulates a coordinated 
strategy to prepare and respond to an influenza pandemic and provides 
guidance to national, state, and local policy makers and health 
departments for public health preparation and response in the event of 
pandemic influenza outbreak. The draft plan includes a core section and 
twelve annexes. The core plan describes coordination and decision-
making activities at the National level; provides an overview of key 
issues; and outlines action steps that should be taken at National, 
state, and local levels before and during a pandemic. Annexes provide 
additional information for health departments and private sector 
organizations, which can be used in developing local preparedness plans 
as well as additional technical information to support the core 
document.

DATES: Comments will be considered if we receive them at the 
appropriate address, as provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on October 
26, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Attn: Pandemic Plan, National Vaccine Program Office, Hubert 
H. Humphrey Building, Room 725H, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20201 or by email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons with access to the Internet 
may obtain the document at http://www.dhhs.gov/nvpo/pandemicplan. 
Submit requests for single copies of the draft pandemic plan to the 
address identified below.
    Attn: Pandemic Plan, National Vaccine Program Office, Hubert H. 
Humphrey Building, Room 725H, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20201 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    An influenza pandemic represents a major threat to health and may 
cause substantial social and economic disruption. Planning and 
implementing preparedness activities are critical to improving the 
effectiveness of a response and decreasing the impacts of a pandemic. 
The draft Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan was 
developed to define national preparedness and response activities, and 
to guide planning activities that are underway at the State and local 
levels in both the public and private sectors. The plan is designed to 
be consistent with other health emergency preparedness and response 
plans while also recognizing the unique issues that an influenza 
pandemic would present.

[[Page 52699]]

II. Input Sought

    There are several issues in the draft plan where options are being 
considered by the Department of Health and Human Services and final 
decisions are pending. Public comment on all aspects of the plan is 
being sought.

    Dated: August 17, 2004.
Arthur J. Lawrence,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of 
Public Health and Science.
[FR Doc. 04-19285 Filed 8-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-28-P