Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy attended the announcement by President Bush at the National Institute of Health where the President set forth an initial plan for preparing the United States for a pandemic flu outbreak:
“The President’s announcement is a long-awaited first step toward a comprehensive pandemic flu plan that America needs and deserves. Democrats have sounded the call for a comprehensive plan and today, the President answered.
The President’s plan needs to be stronger to ensure that the American people have the protections they deserve. In particular, we need to strengthen the capacity of hospitals and health care facilities to respond and react to a pandemic. Stockpiles alone aren’t enough without the capacity to make use of them.We need to ensure that those who are injured by experimental new drugs or vaccines are cared for and we need to take the additional steps necessary to implement a flu plan that is worthy of the American people.Let us all hope and pray we can make up for lost time in the race to protect the American people from this serious disease threat."
