2009 Flu Summit

Opening Remarks

Secretaries Kathleen Sebelius (HHS), Janet Napolitano (DHS), and Arne Duncan (ED) and President Obama give their remarks after Dr. Howard Koh, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, welcomes all to the event. Introductory presentations are given by leaders from the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Homeland Security. Governors also ask questions to the Secretaries.

School Preparedness Panel Discussion

Objectives:

1. Discuss the effects of temporary school closures on the education sector and the community at large and the importance of careful planning.
2. Discuss lessons learned from the spring H1N1 outbreak, including challenges and opportunities for enhancing state and local preparedness for temporary school closures.
3. Identify important components of education sector preparedness, including understanding legal authorities, options for continuing education in the context of school closures, the role of day care centers and universities, and protecting the health and safety of students and staff.
4. Identify mechanisms for communicating at various levels – including between schools, families, and staff; between local educational agencies and states; and between states and the federal government – about H1N1.

Lessons Learned from States, Tribes, & Localities Panel Discussion

Objectives:

1. Discuss common challenges posed and gaps revealed by the ongoing H1N1 public health challenge.
2. Describe novel strategies employed to both respond to H1N1 and mitigate the impact of recommended response measures.
3. Identify opportunities to improve the readiness of state governments to respond in the fall. 

Vaccines & Antiviral Use & Distribution Panel Discussion

Objectives:

Relative to the U.S. government H1N1 vaccine strategy and the distribution and use of antiviral drugs:

1. Review planning assumptions for a vaccination campaign this fall;
2. Describe the process for making recommendations about the use of vaccine and antiviral drugs;
3. Identify ways to monitor and ensure equitable distribution of vaccine and antiviral drugs;
4. Identify ways to improve decision-making, strategies, tactics, and tools related to vaccine and antiviral use and distribution; and
5. Identify information and decision needs that the Federal government can help address.

Continuity Planning & Worker Protection Panel Discussion

Objectives:

1. Discuss strategies to keep critical public and private services operating during an H1N1 outbreak.
2. Identify and discuss the key elements of a successful H1N1 continuity-of- operations plan.
3. Provide continuity resources for planning assistance.
4. Provide information on workforce protection.

Public & Private Sector Roles Panel Discussion

Objectives

1. Describe the role of state and local officials in private sector readiness for H1N1.
2. Describe how state and local officials can effectively communicate with business communities and help them prepare for community mitigation activities including promoting permissive workplace policies (e.g. if you are sick, stay home) and mitigate the impact of school closures on their businesses. 
3. Identify what actions Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR) and private sector organizations should take now to ensure continuity of their sectors and organizations this fall.
4. Broadly describe how the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Regional Coordination Team framework will support states, local communities and the private sector during the response to H1N1. 

Community Mitigation Measures Panel Discussion

Objectives: 

1. Describe the recent implementation and lessons learned of community mitigation measures (including school closings) that are intended to slow or prevent the transmission of H1N1. 
2. Discuss how these measures have and will continue to impact specific groups, including businesses, universities, and child care providers.
3. Discuss specific actions that state and local officials can take to help communities implement these measures and mitigate their impact.
4. Discuss ways to eliminate barriers and align incentives for compliance with community public health measures that may be recommended in the fall.

Medical Surge & Health System Capacity Panel Discussion

Objectives:

1. Discuss the challenges to the medical care system during the spring H1N1 outbreak.
2. Discuss the anticipated medical surge challenges and gaps, as well as possible solutions, related to the return of a potential more clinically severe H1N1 outbreak.
3. Identify information requirements for hospitals, outpatient healthcare providers, the EMS community, long-term care facilities and physicians’ offices and clinics responding to H1N1.

Risk Communication Panel Discussion & the Summit’s Closing Statements

Objectives: 

1. Present and highlight the key principles of risk communications.
2. Demonstrate how the principles of risk communications were used during the Spring 2009 H1N1 outbreak.
3. Encourage state leaders to receive training in crisis and risk communications so they can effectively disseminate critical public health information during the upcoming vaccination campaign and flu season.

Dr. Howard Koh welcomes the closing remarks by HHS Secretary Sebelius at the 29 minute mark of this clip.