Where Do We Go From Here?As the HHS blog winds down, I will use my last entry here to lay out some ideas for what a comprehensive pandemic flu communications campaign might look like. The plan must address the various layers of interaction: HHS to individuals, HHS to intermediaries who then reach their constituents, and individuals to individuals. The first — and most obvious — piece that needs to be put in place is a media campaign. The message should probably be an “official” announcement from the CDC or the Surgeon General that makes it clear that pandemic flu is something to worry about, with clear steps that individuals can take to be prepared. This official imprimature needs to be done using a serious tone, combining facts while tapping into the deep-seated values that will get people to take action. The campaign should be customized for various ethnic and language-based groups to ensure that the message is understood by all. In addition to television, radio and print ads, news and entertainment programs, the campaign should include social media outlets as well — creating an ongoing “soap opera” portraying what could happen when a pandemic hits with 3-minute serialized spots on YouTube; a pandemic preparedness blog that provides a more conversational and informal, yet official, source of information and news; targeted websites in addition to the pandemicflu.gov site that tie into the media campaign; and a social networking site that helps people find others in their city or county who want to collaborate on getting their community prepared. This type of campaign will cost millions of dollars, but cannot be skimped on if HHS is serious about this issue. The second piece — reaching the intermediaries — is what HHS has been focusing on with its Leadership Forum and the toolkits designed for various industry and public sectors. As the word about preparing for pandemic flu comes down from the leaders of each field, professionals will be more likely to accept the new industry standards. Pediatricians may not be comfortable talking with their patients about pandemic flu until the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended such a discussion. Companies may not think they need to make preparations for keeping their businesses running with a substantial percentage of their workforce absent until they see that other large, well-regarded companies are taking this possibility seriously. The easier HHS can make it for the information to be passed along and acted upon, the better. This can also be facilitated by building partnerships with businesses like supermarket chains and home improvement stores, who can help get the word out about suggested supply lists with prepackaged kits or sales on key components of a preparedness stockpile. The third key component of the campaign should facilitate the dissemination of information between individuals. To help empower and harness the energy of the many well-informed citizens who are already working to prepare their family, friends and communities, HHS should create something like a “Citizen Pandemic Preparedness Corps.” Centered around a website and the social network described above, the Corps would have its own online toolkit with a PowerPoint slideshow and presentation script, camera-ready handouts, a speaker’s bureau list, sample letters to the editor and other materials. The website could also provide an online location for people to meet virtually and tools to enable communities to schedule in-person “meet-ups.” Corps members could easily invite their colleagues, community members, friends and family to learn more online and have them then spread the word to their own extended social networks. The exact content and recommendations that would be included in the messages would need to be determined by HHS, but it should be informed by considering the expertise and concerns of those who have posted many comments here on this blog. HHS, I’m sure, has its own experts on pandemic flu, but they would be well-advised to tap into the vast extended knowledge found in flublogia, whether in a formal or informal way. I think this blog has served an important purpose as an introduction between HHS and individuals who have already been working to address pandemic flu on their own. This is the beginning of the conversation. Don’t let it be the end.
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One communication problem is that I, myself—(and I assume the public)— do not understand PR jargon. I had to look up imprimature, which is not in my dictionary.
But I think I know what you mean now.
You mean an IMPRESSIVE and MEMORABLE message?
That IS EXACTLY what AMERICA NEEDS NOW!
NW Quote:”The campaign should include social media outlets as well — creating an ongoing “soap opera” portraying what could happen when a pandemic hits with 3-minute serialized spots on YouTube.”
If the past 2 movies about pandemic flu are any indication—please do not waste money on this soap opera. It makes a pandemic flu seem FICTIONAL. Authoritative and serious videos—such as “How to care for your loved one at home” or a “Storing Water quickly” video—are very much NEEDED. Not many people have even the slightest clue right now. KNOWLEDGE is power and help. Passive entertainment packaged “soap operas” will seem like a fantasy to people.
N QUOTE:”and a social networking site that helps people find others in their city or county who want to collaborate on getting their community prepared.”
I think this should be coordinated through calling local county or city emergency and disaster management offices—not a networking website. Some local entity must be in CHARGE—and responsible for a CLEAR and PRECISE message. Please spend money on numerous toll free phone systems and lines instead. Many people are uncomfortable with the computer–but EVERYONE uses a phone.
PLEASE Define TOOLKIT.
NW QUOTE: “This can also be facilitated by building partnerships with businesses like supermarket chains and home improvement stores, who can help get the word out about suggested supply lists with prepackaged kits or sales on key components of a preparedness stockpile.”
I heartily agree with this idea.
The easier you make it for people to stock up—the more they will. It is the number ONE priority.
People MUST understand they are going to have to STAY HOME!
[PR METHOD idea]: Whatever PR methods were used to let people know to stop eating fresh spinach should be copied and used to get the pandemic risk known to the public.
Everyone in America knew about that recalled spinach in 24 hours. You do not want to over-COMPLICATE the RISK message. Don’t let the beginning of information be– “Too much information”–at once.
PLEASE make pandemic risk as simple and easy to understand as possible. Eliminate all jargon and rarely used words. Please tell people clearly what they need to do for starters—-such as:
“Get a manual can opener and 8 weeks of canned goods.”
I wish you all the BEST.
I hope and pray that you realize the gravity of the pandemic risk situation.
I hope and pray you realize you may be making the difference between life and death for a majority of the American public.
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 6:42 amPS: We need help with our image.
Can you please think of some respectful new names for us besides “flubies” and “flublogia”?
Thanks a million.
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 6:57 amExcellent summary!
The ‘big campaign’ is a popular idea on the flu boards.
The intermediary idea is necessary and a topic at the summit as well. Picking AAP and pediatricians is a perfect example!
The person to person needs some refinement. Some of us are prefectly happy being in an official ’something’ because it helps to present. Many of us would not want that, and don’t want to present, but would relish the toolkits and regional speaker lists (Peter, in this context toolkits mean PowerPoint presentations, handouts and short movies to email, show at libraries, etc. – tools to communicate a message, found in one place from one authoritative source that you use to do a communications job. You don’t have to use every tool in the toolbox for every job, btw).
Think of the online flu people in political terms as registered ‘independents’, belonging to no party. Offering them an HHS party toolkit won’t go over as well as offering a neutral toolkit they can use and adapt. This means that HHS (and CDC, the preferred source for Americans of health info according to surveys) has to relax a bit and understand they don’t control this message as tightly as the million dollar broadcast. But it will spread much faster and wider if they allow that to happen (since it’s going to happen anyway!).
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 7:39 amMrs Weinreich
I am glad to hear your post. I agree.
When you say “The campaign should be customized for various ethnic and language-based groups to ensure that the message is understood by all.” I have two reactions. One is a plug for the deaf. A feeling of joy for there are not many commercials aimed at the deaf. Just turn on CC and see. Look at the daily live shows to see how much of a time delay there is and how much gets lost! Thirty min of channel surfing will be an eye opener.
My second reaction is one of fear. In creating handouts for different groups neutrality has always worked. Yes I agree with you that conforming to a market allows the message to be accepted and flow faster. My two concerns are once they get the message they will have to respond in business English. Not Japanese, Spanish, German, ASL, etc. Second - it takes time not only to create the message in many languages but there is a time delay for it.
Mrs Weinreich “creating an ongoing “soap opera” portraying what could happen when a pandemic hits ” - now that will be interesting. Is there any consensus on how bad it will be? Should you portray multiple cities each with a different level of devastation?
As Peter (POst#1)
can you define “Tool Kit”
As per Dr. Dworkin
Pediatricians will see most of the dying so they have a vested interest. I like the library idea!!! Will work on getting into my library presentation area. Wish I had thought of that. I always just use the meeting rooms. Stay tuned.
Just some thoughts. Hope they help.
I am really looking forward to some official announcement and will bolster my handouts in anticipation of a deluge of questions. Getting the right information out and warding off misconceptions oar fears and empowering folks will be the next challenge.
Regards,
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 8:16 amKobie
May Courage, IQ, Harmony and Joy prevail
Note:
Posting or leaving handouts at work, place of worship and message board at the grocery store is ok.
Writing pandemic flu or any message on a dollar bill is a federal offense. Just tips left over from conversations of decades gone by.
I like the hand out idea as not everyone has a computer.
Will there be T-Shirts at cost?
Regards
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 8:33 amKobie
Do a good deed daily
Make the toolkit open domain and we’ll translate them into German, Italian, etc.
Generally, into European, African, Asian languages.
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 8:53 amPeter: “Can you please think of some respectful new names for us besides “flubies” and “flublogia”?”
I’ll settle for the respect. The name is less important, but the ones used above are used by people online every day, so thanks for illustrating there’s often no unanimity in thinking (on points small and large).
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 9:12 amI feel we need to move forward with a national data base for flu and other vaccines (similar to vaccines for children) where we can identify in an instant who has been immunized and who has not. I know this may not solve this problem of pandemic flu preparedness but I feel it is a start.Our patients, families and friends move from one location to another regularly, we need to have this information at our finger tips.
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 11:20 amOh where has my enthusiasm gone?
Hi Nedra. I like your post. I applaud the enthusiastic spirit in which your post was written.
I have come away from this HHS blog experience with a feeling of discouragement. We know what to do, we all have known what needs to get done for a long time now. The disconnect is getting it done. I simply do not have the resources to mount a sustained campaign, and a sustained campaign is what is needed. I have settled for speaking to people one on one as the opportunity arises. Sad really, I had such excitement and energy to try to reach others.
I am still standing firm in my desire to reach whoever I can but I no longer believe that a grass roots level campaign will take off without outside support. Politics on the world and national level, shoot even the local level interfere with what can be accomplished…sad but reality.
I think that I am in danger of losing that, sometimes naive, idealism that I once had. I really thought that something would happen through our communications in this leadership blog. Now I see it as the same old attempt of talking around a problem.
Nedra, would you personally go door to door with a brochure telling your neighbors about a pandemic? What if you are the only one in a town of 8000 who is actively preparing and when the pandemic strikes they all remember you and your preparedness? I am willing to share all that I have with those in need but this does pose a problem for my family with those who out of fear or downright evil, will come and take what they want.
I am complaining about the attempt here on the HHS blog, really. I have come up short as well. I have the above mentioned fear that I am dealing with among others in being out front with what needs to get done. It isn’t lack of will, talent, or ideas….so what is it that keeps us from doing what needs to get done besides our fears?
Is it fear of making a problem worse by losing credibility if we alert people too soon, or something else entirely?
There has to be other options besides allowing the pandemic to blow through and then picking up the pieces? That thought is horrendous when you think of the reality of what will occur. The deaths that could be prevented, but you know all of this. How will I be able to live with myself afterward, assuming that I live, knowing that I could of warned more people to prepare?
I don’t know how long you have been aware of the pandemic but I have been watching this since 1997. I stumbled upon this when I was searching for informations about some chickens that I had. In 2003 I actively started warning people and preparing my family. I am tired of seeing this thing that most others do not see. I am tired of being the pandemic fool. I am tired of the frustration of wanting to do something, anything, to break through the ignorance or denial and not knowing how to or having the resources to do what needs to get done.
I honestly do not know where to go from here other than to keep praying for guidance from above and telling people as I am led.
I hope that someone finds a way to reach people….and soon.
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 11:57 amI agree that there must be a multiplicity of messages to present the realities and dangers of the pandemic. At my workplace, we have designed videos in the style of the news channels, depicting imagined news stories from inside the pandemic period. They have been particularly effective in training incident support personnel.
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 1:20 pmNedra: Thank you for your contributions to this blog. Your posts have been thoughtful and have shown your interest in the other posts and comments provided on this fedflublog.
On the ’soap opera’ idea, what did you have in mind? I took it to be ‘day in the life of a family’ examples of different locations (home-work-school) during different phases of a pandemic.
I think that could be done without ‘over-dramatizing’ while still carrying the importance and urgency - but admit it would be a difficult balance. One useful tool for such excercises is the history of the 1918 pandmemic. It certainly was a major factor in convincing many people who have already seen the light.
(BTW: when is Hollywood going to come out with a movie based on John Barry’s book?)
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 2:40 pmstandingfirm (Post#9)
I feel much the same about being tired and being wrong. Still the facts out weigh the fears IMHO.
I too was hoping for more concrete short term results and long term goals. I hear the clock ticking and do not feel we should wait to prepare.
Why? Hurricane season is here. Tornado season. people need to try some of what we are suggesting to see if it works. The more times a message is repeated the deeper it sinks in.
Case in point. Aboard the Titanic after the ice burg was spotted Captain Smith gave the order turn the wheel and change engine speed. These orders where carried out. Everyting went as planned but there where events no one had planned for and so the ship sank.
I do not see any benifit to doing nothing. I see great benifit in doing just half of what we suggest. I feel we will end up doing far more than what we now plan when the time comes.
Regards,
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 4:26 pmKobie
#9 standingfirm Says:
Oh where has my enthusiasm gone?
Having worked at the grassroots level for decades, I am very familiar with the frustrations that you have expressed.
But one thing I have learned in my 50years on this planet is: Every tiny effort has a result.
You may not ever see it, or it may be years before you ever know about the effect you had on an individual or even a community.
The little things you do, make a difference. A bigger difference than you may realize at the time.
Every leader, great and small, has felt the feelings you have expressed. Fear is natural and no one who has lead other people, would ever put anyone down for having a piece of it.
The ole imagination is an incredible thing; and disciplining it is a rough row to hoe. But now, is the time for that. We all need to become aware of our fears and our imaginations now, so we will be clear and of one mind when we need it.
As a community leader, I do not fear that people will look to me when things get rough; because I know they will; it is an absolute I cannot hide or run from. I have made peace with this, and have accepted it; as most on this board have done.
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 5:39 pmMs Weinreich,
This is an outstanding post, full of energy and seeded with great ideas.
Thank You for your wisdom and it is my hope we keep seeing your advise on this topic.
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 5:49 pmHo, Hum. Just another meaningless cluster of H5N1 in the Qena area of Egypt.
No need to rush. Two weeks of supplies and a good bulletin on work ethics during a pandemic, whatever that is, is good enough for the DHHS, and it’s good enough for me.
What does it matter that 1 child is hospitalized, surviving because he had immediately available Tamiflu, and 3 days later, today in fact, his 2 siblings are diagnosed with bird flu symptoms also! It’s just Human to Human, and we all know that’s not a pandemic, and that’s not even a cluster, is it? Let’s ignore it and focus on our tuna fish and washed hands and practice sneezing onto our sleeves.
We have a brave and visionary HHS leadership. I back them 100%. They know that little H2H break outs tell us nothing about when a pandemic that will kill nearly all who become infected will start. I agree totally. I don’t know what will happen or when it will happen.
Instead, I’m turning my attention to when the next comet will strike the earth, and I’m digging a hole, an inch a day, getting prepared for me to hide in, and I’m listening to NASA tell me when the comet is assuredly on a collision course.
Ho, Hum. A fun blog time here is had by all. Thanks to the DHHS. We’re on our way to full preparedness.
To the DHHS management: When it’s time to do something, please let us know.
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 7:35 pmit is a wise person that has what they need in case they get hurt rather than have to go to the store if they get hurt.
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 10:06 pmGaudiaRay,
Are you referring to the latest news out of Egypt that siblings of the last H5N1 patient are now sick?
That would be considered a new human cluster and looking at the dates of when they got sick, it could very well be a classic case of influenza transmission from one human to 2 others?
And are you suggesting that this kind of situation which could be a sign of things to come… or that are happening now… is not being spoken about by HHS?
Oh I see, you are using this as a tool to say HHS is dragging it’s feet in implementing the only known solutions to what is happening right now regarding the highly virulent H5N1… namely not getting the word out effectively.
Posted June 25th, 2007 at 10:42 pmI just read Washington State’s official preparation website. For family preparations, they recommend only ONE WEEK of stored supplies, food, etc. If the risk of pandemic flu requires less preparation than a ten-day camping trip, then why are the nations of the world spending so many billions of dollars on the problem?
Posted June 26th, 2007 at 12:12 amWashington State’s “one week” preparation list is a fantastic and horrific example of how the U.S. has utterly failed thus far to get the word out to its citizens.
Niman has said repeatedly, “H5N1 does not read the newspapers.”
The facts, repeating clusters of H2H, are consistently ignored.
The virus is real. It is clustering repeatedly, and globally (save the Americas and Australia, it’s on every continent…but not yet admittedly here). It is lethal.
DHHS has failed to develop the scientific expertise to predict the evolution of H5N1. And their advisors recently said in a publication, that a pandemic out of H5N1 may not happen.
Denial is the name of a river. It is also a name for this DHHS leadership.
The rational way to look at H5N1 is that it is evolving into easily transmissible, sustained transmission. The irrational way is to claim it may not happen and hope there is time to prepare. This is a gamble which I consider reckless. It is the gamble of this DHHS leadership. They are gambling that Gharbiya (Tamiflu resistance, early in the pandemic) and Karo (third generation transmission) will not repeat in any short period of time. That gamble is scientifically unsupportable…yet they take the gamble.
Every time there is a mild case or two, or there is a window of time when there is no active outbreak in a geographic region, other governments self-delusionally claim, “bird flu free” and it’s changing away from evolving towards Level 6. Our DHHS says nothing. The public, hearing this propaganda, predictably believe we’re witnessing the “all clear” signal.
Hope springs eternal. So does this virus. It is springing across continents, and it is springing into humans and our animal food sources.
My government has acted atrociously by refusing to state the facts calmly and clearly to the citizenry that there is an amazing natural event happening, and that its consequences include the quite rational and, should this virus stay its course of evolution, highly probable, deadly infection which would result in mass fear and delusion.
My government has breached its duty to warn and to both support and legislatively “compel” (through grants and regulations) immediate, sustained, and extraordinary actions to harden our socio-economic system, fragile and complex as it is.
Do not think that I’m opposed to toolkits and to fun meetings whereat, in a few days, the attendees rehash old information (almost all available in the public blogs and newsgroups). They enlighten a few each time.
The virus is throwing matches at fatwood. Clusters appear. One time here and one time there, this subclade or that, the virus will experience the magical threshold, “Sustained, third generation transmission”.
Nobody knows when, for a slew of reasons, many of which were political, and were bad choices. However, ignorance as to the timing does not translate into “low risk”.
I’m not making any recommendation other than one: ASSIGN TEAMS OF EXPERTS TO CALCULATE THE PROBABILITIES, AND THEN TELL THE PEOPLE IN REAL TIME, VIA THEIR BLOG, WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN BASED ON CURRENT REALITY. Those teams should be free to reach different conclusions, and each should be aired repeatedly, updatedly and fully. The American people, facing this virus, H5N1, deserve nothing less.
The blogs and newsgroups are full of wise, well thought ideas that DHHS has ignored and will continue to ignore. They’re going to do it their way. Their way has low probability of preparing the society for what is happening, today, not tomorrow, today.
The Admiral and this enthusiastic thinking blogger will lead as they have each chosen. I’m not going along for either of their rides. The issue is life or death; it’s not about a hand wash or a toolkit or a national campaign to prepare for two weeks.
The leadership knows what it should do. The rest is sound and fury signifying nothing to a persistent, successful, expanding and deadly virus.
The actions which are a rational response to the virus as it is now are not those being taken or suggested by this DHHS leadership, imo. So, I’m amazed that so many choose to accept what is offered as “something rather than nothing”.
As I said at the beginning, “This virus reads neither the press releases nor the toolkit.” Failure to offer continuing, updated, multi-sourced scientific estimates of the then-projected evolutionary paths of the multiple clades of this virus is DHHS’ most serious failure of all.
Posted June 26th, 2007 at 2:28 amAnnie R.N. Says:
When you say “Washington State’s official preparation website. For family preparations, they recommend only ONE WEEK of stored supplies, food, etc. ”
It Chills me. I fear many will look at the pantry and say “Hmmm, must be one week of food in here.”
They may not do what 13 year old boy scouts can do - plan out each meal for one week. Make sure they have milk, eggs, food, pots, pans, plates, wash soap, etc. How often have adults run out to the store to get “one item” needed for dinner?
There may not be a safety net of McDonald’s or a grocery store. Ask the folks in homestead Fla after Hurricane Andrew came through. I had two friends go down.
They actually had fun at night after work. Camp fire, fish, shrimp - lots of shrimp. They stayed until the local government made it too difficult to stay. Not just business license but registering a vehicle, etc, etc. Then they left.
Where do we go from here?
I hope we get specific
I hope we do get real time or daily information so people can make an informed decision.
I hope people think about any law passed before it is passed “under emergency situations.”
I hope people take H5N1 seriously.
I hope life insurance and health insurance companies do not fold or back out at the last min saying “H5N1 could bankrupt us - we have to drop our policies.” or “H5N1 is not using tried and tested medical techniques so it is not covered.”
I hope they are not getting ideas from my posts.
The list goes on but all these “I Hope” lines has me feeling like Jeff Foxworthy.
I hope others post their thoughts, hopes, fears.
Regards,
Posted June 26th, 2007 at 8:06 amKobie
Where do I go from here?
Shopping for 3 months of supplies.
Consisting of:
Unscented bleach to purify my water.
3 months of Rice & Beans per person in my family.
1 month of MRE’s.
2 months of Canned foods and dry goods.
3 months of Life sustaining medications.
Alternative heating supplies - i live in the north.
Posted June 26th, 2007 at 9:22 amMrs Weinreich,
On the eve of the close of the blog I ask:
Where do *they* go from here.
Many here are either trying to lead others or coming up to speed on the subject.
I am more concerned about those who are either blocking the process, not involved or deny it will happen due to bad information. I respect those who think H5N1 will not happen for good sound reason. Though we both still agree there is much to be done to get others prepared.
What do I want?
I want high speed medical equipment to help record events and be a HCW force multiplier.
I want drug companies to be ready with raw supplies so they can run 24×7.
I want them, the moving companies, to be ready to drop their loads and take up the cause of moving vital goods should that me needed.
I want “them and they” to be ready so as fewest number suffer or die.
Goju - You have a plan. I have a plan, others on this blog and other blogs have plans. That number is in the thousands - not the millions or billions.
Mrs Weinreich I ask “Where do *they* go from here” for we have gone forward.
Regards,
Posted June 26th, 2007 at 11:20 amKobie
Nedra, I guess I answered my own question.
Do what is morally right to do? Tell as many people as you can!
Today I was able to reach two more people to the point that they are willing to prepare. They received a calm message and responded. Perhaps enough has been mentioned in a round about way for people like me to reach some people. One woman that I spoke to remembered Secretary Leavitts advice about the tuna. I was able to say “hurray it worked, you remembered…now for step 2″
People are hearing they just need people to tie it all together for them so that they themselves can mobilize, just DON’T GIVE UP. DON’T GIVE IN TO DISCOURAGEMENT…just MVHO.
Posted June 26th, 2007 at 12:24 pmNedra,
The below comments are my own and do not represent anyone else’s.
The CDC and HHS need to enhance their credibility within many segments of the United States. To be clear, work is needed to have communities trust the CDC and HHS. A “universal” message will be not be sufficient to obtain the compliance needed to hold a pandemic.
The message must also match the community segment’s “common sense” for compliance to occur. Better yet, the CDC and HHS must yield to the public’s desire for transparency and immediate notification, rather than the malaise of lawyer jargon and the delays their incompetent advice leads to.
Posted June 26th, 2007 at 1:36 pmOn the outset I just wanted to applaud everyone who took the time out to write posts or comments on this blog. Also, many thanks to Secretary Leavitt for creating this medium to voice our opinions!
Standingfirm-I doubt you are alone in feeling frustrated and fatigued by the lag or lack of action by several key stakeholders, namely business, government, and communities. I think part of the problem is that many public health agencies do not do an adequate job of communicating with the public. Even small successes show improvement, but would rarely be publicized or televised. The public can then only assume that nothing has been done. Another system complication is the numerous large and small agencies and organizations in the United States. There are simply too many projects going on at too many places for any one group alone to know what each other has done or is working on. That is where pooling resources and collaboration may be helpful. Why re-invent the wheel when we can work together and get the job done twice as fast?
Having said that, information generated from this blog and other influenza blogs coupled with surveys that have been done assessing how prepared the United States is across the different stakeholders/sectors named above should help the government to decide The Next Steps in Preparedness. Whether or not these tools will materialize into more than just goal-setting and check-lists is up to agencies like HHS.
Everyone who participated in the blog should take comfort in the knowledge that they contributed in identifying the problem(s), framing the viewpoints of concerned citizens, and offering possible solutions. Also know that what happens in the next few weeks, months, and years with preparedness will reflect our nation’s priorities.
Some quotes to ponder…
“It is once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”-Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-1978), 38th Vice President of the United States
“A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.”-Ariel Durant (1898-1981), 1968 Pulitzer Prize winner for Rousseau and Revolution
“The 9/11 attacks were a shock, but they should not have come as a surprise… We write with the benefit and handicap of hindsight. We are mindful of the danger of being unjust to men and women who made choices in conditions of uncertainty and in circumstances over which they had little control. Nonetheless, there were specific points of vulnerability in the plot and opportunities to disrupt it…Across the government, there were failures of imagination, policy, capabilities, and management.” -9/11 Commission Report
If agencies decide not to prioritize emergency preparedness and response for a pandemic, a hurricane, or any other disaster; if preparedness plans do not take into account communities or special populations (e.g. those with mental or physical disabilities, low income, no vehicle, etc…); and if those plans are not helpful or inclusive–meaning traditional public health research that assumes the government/academic institutions know what’s best for all, is utilized instead of community-based approaches that assume the community as a collective unit have useful knowledge that can aid in the planning process), than these discussion were all for not. However, when the next pandemic, hurricane, earthquake, etc..occurs, the government cannot claim ignorance to the public’s viewpoint.
The BIGGER question for citizens is—how do WE turn these blog discussions into ACTIONS?
The answer I think lies with ACCOUNTABILITY.
Many who have participated in this blog are knowledgeable about pandemic influenza, have stockpiled for themselves and their families, and may even have tried to get the word out to others in their community. Unfortunately, there are things that are to an extent out of our hands. We do not control our essential goods, services, or the transportation of those needs. If we become ill, who will care for us? Who will care for our loved ones if we pass? How will grandmother get her diabetic medications if her caretakers leave to attend to their families or become ill? How will our sisters and brothers get safe, clean water when utilities go down, the lake is miles away and they have no transportation/no gasoline? It is not hard to see how the aftermath of such an event will be worse than the disease itself.
Take action by holding leaders accountable. And connect with public interest, non-profit, and grassroots organizations in your communities. Write letters, email, and call your representatives. Research what has or hasn’t been done in your state, county, city, community, etc… The government (e.g. national, state, city and county) has the power to create policies that effect how well we are prepared. For example, it can allot money to fund community research and preparedness. Another example-Businesses such as group homes are licensed through Health and Human Services at the county level. As part of that licensing agreement HHS/the county could require them to have pandemic and emergency plans subject to approval.
With the combined and creative efforts of individual citizens and grassroots organizations we can help others to be better prepared. We cannot prevent disasters from occurring, but we can try to put the UNITED back into the UNITED STATES.
Posted June 26th, 2007 at 5:48 pmGenelle, MPH Candidate
“The length of a man’s shadow is measured by the istitutions and efforts he leaves behind” Thomas Jefferson - second president.
“A person is never so tall as as when they stoop to help another” Shriners.
Fear: - is beliving that what you can not see, nor touch nor change will happen.
Faith: - is beliving that what you can not see, nor touch nor change will happen.
Unfortunatly my effects are limited by
“you can lead a horse to water, but you can not make him drink.”
“Quitters never win, winners never quit.”
“Live the adventure others dream of”
“To thyn own self be true”
Reagards
Posted June 26th, 2007 at 8:34 pmKobie
Please explain why these individuals did not participate in the blog as planned:
Ann M. Beauchesne
Jeffrey B. Caballero, MPH
David Eisner
Matthew Holt
Please explain—what was the TRUE purpose of this blog???
Please explain where the money to prepare with is going to come from at the local level?
I am to the point where I think the Federal authorities and State Governors should get on TV and say:
A pandemic is coming. We never told you how severe it could be. We used the lowest numbers. I am afraid now, our outlook has changed. At this point in time, with the current fatality rate, we could lose over half of the young people now living in the US if a pandemic flu of H5N1 hit today.
We are not going to pay for ANY pandemic preparedness for individuals at the local level.
If you are concerned and want to help: —–work on preparedness within your own community with the wealthiest, the most well-known, and the most trustworthy private leaders in your local area, and forget about any government assistance whatsoever.
Your chosen local leaders can take charge of your community now, without waiting for money, guidance and truth that will never come.
Posted June 26th, 2007 at 10:42 pmThank you all for your great comments, pushing the limits and implications of what I came up with. I think that HHS sincerely wants to help and make a difference, but the speed of government is glacial. They have started the process, and I believe that you will eventually see them taking the lead on spreading the word, though not as quickly as you would like. By participating in this blog, you have definitely made a difference… we’ll have to watch and wait to see where they take it from here.
Posted June 27th, 2007 at 2:25 amDear Mrs Weinreich,
The speed of government can be a glacial pace or even techtonic.
During WW-II, the great depresion, the space race and the arms race we moved quickly, correctly and won.
Why not now?
From May 24th to June 25th the WHO has confirmed 8 more H5N1 cases and 5 deaths.
Sources:
May:
www.who.int/csr/dise…
June:
www.who.int/csr/dise…
HIV /AIDS started out slow. We thought we could control it. It was a private matter.
Worse, disaster after disaster shows that most people are not prepared for short term simple events.
Mrs Weinreich please know these poests are but a fraction of what has already been done. A small fraction of who is working on the problem.
I hope the dream has not been lost. I hope the most famouse split infinitive of all time is but a TV show tag line. “To boldy go where no man has gone before.”
I have seen so much good by so many donating their time and effort while putting themselves at risk of ridicule or loosing their job. Even without thanks or good feed back saying “we here you.”
I trust you and Dr. Dworkin who say we have helped. I just can not accept the glacial pace of government with out good reason when I feel they can move faster.
I thank you all for this time to interact with HHS and the blog space.
Regards,
Posted June 27th, 2007 at 8:49 amKobie