States Eligible to Receive $350 Million for H1N1, Seasonal Flu Preparedness Efforts

Grants Will Support Work to Protect Public Health, Prepare for Novel H1N1 and
Seasonal Flu
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
One day after hosting a summit on the 2009 novel H1N1 flu with representatives
from state, tribal, territorial and local governments from across the country,
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the availability of $350 million
in grants to help states and territories prepare for the 2009 novel H1N1 flu
virus and the fall flu season. The grants were funded by the recent supplemental
appropriations bill that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President
Barack Obama on June 24, 2009.

"With flu season around the corner, we must remain vigilant and do all we can to
prepare our nation and protect public health," said Secretary Sebelius. "These
grants will give states valuable resources to step up their flu preparedness
efforts."

A total of $260 million in Public Health Emergency Response Grants and $90
million in Hospital Preparedness grants will be distributed nationwide.

Public Health Emergency Response grants help state public health departments
perform a variety of functions, including preparing for potential vaccination
campaigns, implementing strategies to reduce people`s exposure to the 2009 novel
H1N1 flu and improving influenza surveillance and investigations.

Hospital Preparedness grants enhance the ability of hospitals and health care
systems to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. Local outbreaks
of the novel H1N1 virus have produced a surge of patients at hospitals, and
these grants will help ensure hospitals are ready for future outbreaks that may
impact their community.

In addition to the grants released today, the Obama Administration has taken a
series of steps to help prepare and protect the American people from the novel
H1N1 flu. In May of this year, HHS distributed 11 million treatment courses of
antivirals to states, territories and tribes to fight the H1N1 influenza
outbreak. Also in May, HHS invested more than $1 billion to produce bulk
supplies of key vaccine ingredients as part of the process to develop and test a
potential H1N1 vaccine.

The Administration has upgraded and expanded www.flu.gov, which includes
guidance that community leaders and the American people need to prepare for,
prevent, and respond to the H1N1 flu virus.

The Obama Administration has also launched a new public service announcement
competition. Any American can record and submit his or her own public service
announcement regarding H1N1 flu preparedness by visiting www.flu.gov. The
entries will be judged by experts and the winner will receive a $2,500 prize and
the opportunity to have his or her announcement aired on television across the
country.

A list of funding by state is located at:
http://www.flu.gov/whereyoulive/flugrants_20090710.html

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

HHS Press Office
202-690-6343

Copyright Business Wire 2009