VZCZCXRO3810
PP RUEHSL
DE RUEHC #9707/01 2672002
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241943Z SEP 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 5110
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0191
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 1272
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0520
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 3702
RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA PRIORITY 0468
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 5036
RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST PRIORITY 7736
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 0993
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 1359
RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN PRIORITY 1078
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 2355
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 7902
RUEHLE/AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG PRIORITY 6039
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 2674
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 4058
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 6910
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 6694
RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE PRIORITY 0994
RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK PRIORITY 9755
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 3459
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 1979
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 8109
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 6419
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0612
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA PRIORITY 9520
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 4892
INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 6587
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 4270
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 5312
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6856
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 8723
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 6426
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 2436
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0360
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7856
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 9293

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 099707 
 
SIPDIS 
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR EU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC PREL KFLU WHO
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP ON PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO EXPAND 
FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL H1N1 PANDEMIC 
 
REF: STATE 97471 (NOTAL) 
 
¶1.  This is an action request.  See paragraph six. 
 
¶2.  Background. 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 other countries. Other governments are joining with the 
United States in 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.  The purpose of this cable is to solicit 
assistance from countries not included in the first round of 
the initiative. 
 
¶3.  Following is the text of the President's announcement of 
September 17 which 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 
 
STATE 00099707  002 OF 004 
 
 
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.  The H1N1 initiative grew out of recognition that H1N1 
is a global health risk requiring a global response. 
We have encouraged donations in a variety of 
ways, including: 1) funding for vaccine or non-vaccine 
contributions (such as technical capacity to enable timely 
delivery in-country, syringes, gowns, medical and protective 
equipment); 2) donation of vaccine purchased by the donor 
government, and 3) joining with the United States in an 
effort 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 the collective 
response, with earlier delivery being more efficacious 
against 
the pandemic. 
 
¶5.  Reftel was sent September 18 to capitals involved in the 
original announcement of the initiative (see para 3) seeking 
additional clarity on their commitments to donate portions of 
national vaccine supplies, or other significant assistance 
such 
as money for technical assistance.  Germany announced 
September 24 that it would provide 20 million euros 
(approximately million dollars) to help developing 
countries fight H1N1. End Background 
 
¶6.  Action Request. Posts are requested to approach senior 
host government officials to ask that they consider 
contributing vaccines, funding, technical support or 
medical supplies to WHO to help developing countries and to 
identify the appropriate points of contact for any follow-up. 
 
 
For Ottawa:  The issue has been raised in Washington with 
Canadian DCM Saint-Jacques.  Canada expressed interest in 
 
STATE 00099707  003 OF 004 
 
 
donating vaccine or providing support through other 
mechanisms, 
but was unable to conclude its review in time to be included 
in the original announcement. 
 
For Tokyo:  The issue has been raised in Washington with 
Japanese Economic Counselor Hayashi.  Japan expressed 
interest 
in donating vaccine or providing support through other 
mechanisms, but was unable to conclude its review in time to 
be 
included in the original announcement. 
 
For Berlin -- Please express appreciation for 20 million Euro 
donation Germany announced September 24, 2009 while seeking 
further details and contact information per talking points 
below. 
 
Responses are requested by September 29. Please slug for 
OES/IHB (Jones) and IO/HS (Blackwood). 
 
¶7.  Talking Points. 
 
--The United States and Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, 
New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are 
working to provide assistance, including vaccines, to help 
developing countries respond to the global challenge posed by 
the H1N1 pandemic.  Other countries are considering joining 
this 
effort. 
 
--We ask you to consider on an urgent basis whether your 
government/the EU can contribute to this common effort to 
combat the global H1N1 pandemic. 
 
-- Donations can be made in a variety of ways, including: 
1) funding for vaccine or non-vaccine contributions (such as 
technical capacity to enable timely delivery in-country and 
medical supplies); 2) direct donation of vaccine purchased by 
your 
government, or 3) freeing up vaccine manufacturing capacity 
for WHO purchase on favorable terms to be negotiated between 
WHO and the manufacturers.  If countries choose to free up 
capacity, 
it might be worthwhile to considering doing so in a 
coordinated 
fashion.  We would welcome your government joining with the 
United States and our other partners in this global effort. 
 
-- To ensure effective coordination between donors and the WHO 
we would appreciate information on any assistance you may be 
able to provide and its timing. Since plans may still be 
under 
development, we would like to be kept informed of about yours, 
and intend to share our own. 
 
 
STATE 00099707  004 OF 004 
 
 
-- The United States will work to facilitate contacts between 
relevant officials in our respective governments, as well as 
WHO. Please provide the names and contact information of the 
appropriate officials in your government for any follow-up. 
 
 
-- 
CLINTON