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UNCLAS STATE 097471 
 
 
ROME ALSO FOR U.S. MISSION TO FAO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC PREL KFLU WHO
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP ON PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO EXPAND 
FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL H1N1 PANDEMIC 
 
¶1.  This is an action request.  See para five. 
 
¶2.  On September 17, 2009, President Obama announced that the 
United States will act aggressively to stop the global spread 
of the pandemic 2009-H1N1 virus through partnering with the 
World Health Organization (WHO) to make 10 percent of the 
U.S. H1N1 vaccine supply available to vulnerable countries. 
Other countries are partnering with the United States to act 
in concert with this effort -- Australia, Brazil, France, 
Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United 
Kingdom.  Similar announcements have been made to date by all 
except Brazil. 
 
¶3.  The President's announcement of September 17 copied below 
can be found at www.whitehouse.gov. 
 
Begin text. 
 
The White House 
Office of the Press Secretary 
 
President Announces Plan to Expand Fight Against Global H1N1 
Pandemic 
 
Today, President Obama announced the United States will 
continue to act aggressively to stop the global spread of the 
pandemic 2009-H1N1 influenza virus and is prepared to make 10 
percent of its H1N1 vaccine available to other countries 
through the WHO.  In recognition that diseases know no 
borders and that the health of the American people is 
inseparable from the health of people around the world, the 
United States is taking this action in concert with 
Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, 
Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.  The United States will 
make the H1N1 vaccine available to the WHO on a rolling basis 
as vaccine supplies become available, in order to assist 
countries that will not otherwise have direct access to the 
vaccine. 
 
This week, the Food and Drug Administration officially 
licensed the 2009-H1N1 influenza vaccine.  Last week, the 
Department of Health and Human Services and the National 
Institutes of Health announced that one dose of the vaccine - 
instead of two doses - will be effective in developing 
immunity in most adults, and HHS Secretary Sebelius announced 
the vaccine would be available in the coming weeks, earlier 
than originally anticipated.  We remain confident that the 
United States will have sufficient doses of the vaccine to 
ensure that every American who wants a vaccine is able to 
receive one.  We continue to recommend that early priority at 
home and abroad should be given to pregnant women, health 
care workers, individuals caring for infants less than 6 
months of age, and other high-risk populations. 
 
There is broad international recognition that the 2009-H1N1 
pandemic presents a global health risk.  Millions of people 
around the world have been affected, thousands have died and 
the virus continues to spread across international borders. 
The United States recognizes that just as this challenge 
transcends borders, so must our response.  We invite other 
nations to join in this urgent global health effort.  Working 
together, we can ensure that this vaccine limits the spread 
of the disease, reduces the burden on health care systems, 
reduces the risk of an even more virulent strain emerging 
and, most importantly, saves lives -- in the United States 
and around the world. 
 
End text. 
 
¶4.  Background.  This initiative grew out of the important 
recognition of H1N1 as a global health risk, and therefore, 
of our global responsibility to ensure a collective and 
common security in an increasingly interdependent world. 
While other countries have pledged to join us in this effort, 
we seek additional clarity on the commitments made regarding 
donation of 10% of respective country vaccine supplies, 
and/or any other donation intended such as money or technical 
assistance.  Donations can be made in three ways:  1) 
funding, for vaccine or non-vaccine contributions (such as 
technical capacity to enable timely delivery in-country); 2) 
donation of vaccine purchased by the donor government, and/or 
3) joining with the United states in an effort to negotiate 
with the drug industry in order to free up contracted 
manufacturing capacity so that it can be allocated to the 
WHO.  The question of timing for vaccine delivery is an 
important factor in our collective response, with earlier 
delivery being more efficacious against the pandemic. 
 
¶5.  Action Request.  Posts are requested to approach senior 
host government officials to ask for more detailed 
information on vaccine donation or other donation plans, some 
of whom may have received initial contact from the White 
House.  List of officials contacted is being emailed 
separately to respective posts.   Request post responses by 
September 23rd.  Please slug responses for IO/HS (Blackwood) 
and OES/IHB (Fantozzi). 
 
¶6.  Talking Points. 
 
--Thank you for undertaking to join the United States in a 
common effort to combat the global H1N1 pandemic. 
 
-- We would like to ensure effective coordination between 
donors and the WHO and to understand clearly how and when you 
plan to fulfill your pledge regarding donation of 10% of 
respective country vaccine supplies, and/or any other 
donation intended such as money or technical assistance. 
Inasmuch as such plans may still be under development, we 
would like to be kept informed of your progress, and intend 
to share our own. 
 
-- Donations can be made in three ways:  1) pledge of funding 
for vaccine or non-vaccine contributions (such as technical 
capacity to enable timely delivery in-country); 2) donation 
of vaccine purchased by your government, or 3) freeing up 
manufacturing capacity and encouraging the manufacturers to 
sell the vaccine made available to WHO at the WHO price, 
where we would like to pursue your joining with the United 
States in an effort to negotiate with the drug industry for 
reduced rate purchases by WHO. 
 
-- We would also like to discuss timing of the vaccine 
delivery to provide the most efficacious assistance, and we 
would like to stay in close contact as we formalize our 
commitments and expand and deepen our conversations with the 
WHO and manufacturers. 
 
-- The United States will facilitate contacts between 
relevant officials in the respective governments, as well as 
WHO, as soon as possible in order to move forward on these 
commitments.  Please provide the names and contact 
information of officials in your government who should be 
included in these discussions. 
 
 
CLINTON