File #: Res 0649-2004    Version: * Name: “Emergency Flu Response Act of 2004”
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Health
On agenda: 10/27/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the Congress of the United States to pass S.2968, the “Emergency Flu Response Act of 2004”, introduced on October 8, 2004, by a bipartisan group of Senators, which would address the crisis created by the current shortage of flu vaccine.
Sponsors: Gifford Miller, Christine C. Quinn, Maria Baez, Gale A. Brewer, Robert Jackson, Erik Martin Dilan, James F. Gennaro, Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Tony Avella, Charles Barron, Yvette D. Clarke, Lewis A. Fidler, Alan J. Gerson, Letitia James, G. Oliver Koppell, John C. Liu, Miguel Martinez, Michael E. McMahon, Hiram Monserrate, Michael C. Nelson, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Joel Rivera, Larry B. Seabrook, Kendall Stewart, Albert Vann, David I. Weprin, Sara M. Gonzalez, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Betsy Gotbaum
Council Member Sponsors: 29
Attachments: 1. Committee Report, 2. Hearing Transcript, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 11/10/04

Res. No. 649

 

Resolution calling upon the Congress of the United States to pass S.2968, the “Emergency Flu Response Act of 2004”, introduced on October 8, 2004, by a bipartisan group of Senators, which would address the crisis created by the current shortage of flu vaccine.

 

By The Speaker (Council Member Miller) and Council Members Quinn, Baez, Brewer, Jackson, Dilan, Gennaro, Addabbo, Avella, Barron, Clarke, Fidler, Gerson, James, Koppell, Liu, Martinez, McMahon, Monserrate, Nelson, Recchia, Rivera, Seabrook, Stewart, Vann, Weprin, Gonzalez, Comrie and The Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum)

 

Whereas, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population become ill with the flu, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and approximately 36,000 people die from flu; and

Whereas, The CDC also states that older people, young children and people with certain health conditions, including pregnancy, are at high risk for serious flu complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes, and children may develop sinus problems and ear infections; and

Whereas, The CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine each fall as the single best way to prevent the flu; and

Whereas, On October 5, 2004, Chiron Corporation, one of the only two companies that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to produce the flu vaccine for the United States (U.S.) during the 2004-2005 flu season, announced that its license to manufacture Fluvirin influenza virus vaccine was temporarily suspended due to contamination, preventing any release of its product and reducing the expected supply of the flu shot in the U.S. by approximately one half; and

Whereas, Since this announcement, the U.S. has been scrambling to ensure that those with the greatest health risks for serious flu complications are able to access the significantly diminished vaccine supply; and

Whereas, On October 8, 2004, a bipartisan group of Senators, including Senators Reed, Kennedy, Warner, Daschle, Snowe, Dodd, Clinton, Dorgan, Bayh, Schumer, Johnson and Dayton, introduced S.2968, which is entitled the “Emergency Flu Response Act of 2004” (the “Act”); and

Whereas, The Emergency Flu Response Act of 2004 would require the FDA to review vaccines from Europe, Canada or Japan which were approved by the regulatory agencies of those nations, using a flexible and expedited review procedure, and would require the United States Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Secretary to purchase additional stocks of approved vaccine available from those nations; and

Whereas, This Act would also provide funding to states to develop plans for effective distribution of flu vaccine, as well as funding to increase the stockpile of antiviral medications and to conduct dilution studies of existing vaccine; and

Whereas, This Act would also establish a vaccine clearinghouse to facilitate the voluntary donation of vaccine from individuals or companies with employees at low risk of infection to individuals with high risk and would further allow the HHS Secretary to purchase vaccine from employers or wholesalers who wish to sell it; and

Whereas, This Act would require that any manufacturer of influenza vaccine submit a report to the HHS Secretary regarding the availability of the vaccine so that reserve supplies can be directed to areas of shortage; and

Whereas, This Act would also provide the CDC with emergency authority to require the vaccine to be distributed through health agencies if other means fail to assure priority for the neediest patients; and

Whereas, This Act would ensure that anyone complying with a requirement to undergo quarantine does not suffer loss of employment or income; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of The City of New York calls upon the Congress of the United States to pass to pass S.2968, the “Emergency Flu Response Act of 2004”, introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators, which would address the crisis created by the current shortage of flu vaccine.

 

10.22.04

LS # 1932

GRS