HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the department “will commit US$884 million to purchase additional supplies of two key ingredients for potential H1N1 vaccine to further prepare the nation for a potential resurgence of the 2009 H1N1 virus.” Secretary Sebelius said, “We recognize that preparedness is shared responsibility between federal, tribal, state, local governments, private organizations and individuals. We are doing our part to be as prepared as possible for the impact that this infectious disease could have on our country. Vaccines may serve an important role in that preparedness. The action we are taking today will provide flexibility in a future immunization program, if a program is recommended.”

The funds will be used to place additional orders for bulk H1N1 antigen and adjuvant on existing contracts with Sanofi Pasteur, MedImmune, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis. The vaccine ingredients will become a part of the pandemic stockpile, for use if a vaccination campaign is necessary, HHS said. More information about this announcement: https://www.medicalcountermeasures.gov/BARDA/MCM/panflu/factsheet.aspx.

(HHS Release, 13 July 2009) http://www.hhs.gov/news.