Friday, November 25, 2005

HHS Flu Summit for States will take place on Dec. 5. Julie Gerberding and I are at collegial “odds” with the DHHS people (Laura Lawlor and John Ogwanobi) in that we feel that the Department and the CDC specifically should be the first ones discussing the Plan. The Agenda as of today has MOL (as appropriate) speaking and then we bring on Rajeev from HSC, Jeff Runge from DHS, a person from DoA. Julie does not come on until after lunch. Even I (speaking on the science of flu as I usually do) come on before Julie. There is already concern in Congress and in the Press as to “who is in charge”. I feel that the CDC should be right up front on this. HHS and MOL are is charge, but the major health instrument for preparedness and response is the CDC. Nov. 26-30, 2005 – Media continues for me with Lou Dobbs, CNN Wolf Blitzer (The Situation Room), WTOP radio, CBS News, etc. regarding bird flu. The preparation of DHHS for the States Flu Summit on Dec. 5 is a major mess. Laura Lawlor somehow has taken over the preparation and it seems that no one knows what we are supposed to do. MOL has taken a major interest in a 75 city tour of himself, Julie, me and perhaps others to tell the States of their “responsibility” to be prepared locally for a pandemic flu. Every time this subject comes up, the States push back by saying that they have no money and the Federal Government is giving them an unfunded mandate. What I see is a clear example of a Secretary who is a good person who has gotten too personally involved in an issue and who is doing some of the planning off the top of his head and as a result there really is no one truly in charge of making sure something is done correctly. Everyone on his staff (John Ogwanobi, Suzy DeFrancis, Kerry Weems, etc.) is afraid to say that the 50 states tour is likely to be a disaster. They are like a Greek Chorus telling him in this case that it is a good idea. They do not know what the goal is or even why they are doing it. I strongly suspect that Suzy DeFrancis deep-down thinks that this is a campaign swing and , frankly, MOL does also to some degree. I have told Stewart Simonson and Bruce Gellin that I feel it would be a disaster. I do not want to be a part of it and have asked Stewart to tell Rich McKeown this. Rich is the most sensible one there and so hopefully I can get out of most or all of the tour. They want me for my credibility, but this is local and state public health stuff, which is not my area. Also, I am hearing that the White House knows how disorganized they are and are getting anxious The attacks in the press on Stewart Simonson seem to be winding down, but Sarah Luecke of the WSJ will be coming out with a big article. I have spoken to her and hopefully she will give a balanced story.