Department of Health and Human Services
October 18, 2004
Fact Sheet: The Flu Vaccine
Flu Vaccine Progress
Unprecedented Commitment Fact: Under President Bush, HHS increased
funding for flu preparation activities by 720 percent.
Funding Levels
Overall, HHS has increased funding for
flu-related activities - including surveillance, research, education
and vaccine purchase - from $39.3 million in fiscal year 2001
(President Clinton's last budget) to $215.6 million in 2004.
The President has requested $283.1 million from Congress for flu
programs in 2005.
HHS Flu-related funding 2001 to 2005:
2001: $39.3 million.
2002: $47 million.
2003: $101.7 million
2004: $215.6 million
2005:
$283.1 million (a 720 percent increase over 2001).
These increases include:
CDC Flu Funding: $17.2
million to $41.6 million (242 percent increase).
NIH Research
and Development Funding: $20.6 million to $65.9 million (320 percent
increase).
FDA Research and Licensing Funding: $1.5 million
to $2.6 million (173 percent increase).
First ever purchases
of vaccines for a strategic reserve: $0 to $80 million.
Stabilizing Demand
HHS is spending $40 million in both
2004 and 2005 to purchase more children's influenza vaccine for the
first time under the Vaccines for Children Program.
This
helps protect the nation's children against shortages of the flu
vaccine.
Secretary Thompson has proposed expanding this
program to further stabilize demand.
Modern Vaccines
In each of the last two budgets, President
Bush has asked for $100 million to shift vaccine development to new
cell-culture technologies, as well as to provide for year-round
availability of eggs for egg-based vaccine.
HHS received $50
million in the fiscal year 2004 budget.
Secretary Thompson
urges Congress to fully fund the $100 million request for 2005.
Pandemic Preparation
In August, Secretary Thompson
unveiled the department's draft Pandemic Influenza Response and
Preparedness Plan.
This plan outlines a coordinated national
strategy to prepare for and respond to a flu pandemic.
Though
public health professionals for years talked about the need for such a
plan, it took the leadership of President Bush and Secretary Thompson
to get it done.