Biosecurity Briefing: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report titled HHS in the 21st Century: Charting a New Course for a Healthier America, which evaluates the department's ability to meet both continued and emerging health challenges.
Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:49:45 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-12-22-iomrecommendhhs21century.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On December 16, 2008, HHS released a revised version of its Guidance on Antiviral Drug Use during an Influenza Pandemic. This document replaces HHS�s 2005 pandemic influenza plan.
Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:38:12 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-12-22-hhsguideantiviralpan.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) met to discuss recommendations to the U.S. government for enhancing reliability of laboratory personnel with access to biological select agents and toxins.
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:37:44 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/science_biosecurity/2008-12-15-nsabblabpersnlreliablity.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On December 4, 2008, HHS released a draft of its national vaccine strategy, a plan intended to guide the federal government in making policy decisions on vaccine development, production, and distribution.
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:27:15 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-12-15-draftnatlvacplan.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On December 9, 2008, Trust for America's Health (TFAH) released its 6th annual report Ready or Not? 2008: Protecting the Public's Health from Disease, Disasters, and Bioterrorism.
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:16:24 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-12-15-tfahannualreport.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism delivered its World At Risk report. Notably, the report predicts that a WMD will be used somewhere in the world by the end of 2013.
Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:55:51 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-12-10-wmdcomrptbionucthreats.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Office of the President-Elect has posted on its website the Obama-Biden plan for "securing the homeland against 21st century threats."
Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:35:44 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-12-01-pres-electrnsitionbiosec.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On November 4, 2008, the DoD�S Defense Science Board released a report outlining defense priorities for the incoming Obama administration.
Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:15:27 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-11-17-obamadoddhstransition.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On November 6, 2008, the Financial Times reported that cyber attackers broke into the White House network several times and stole government emails.
Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:56:16 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-11-10-whitehousenetworkhacked.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Congressional Research Service provides a legal analysis of whether an influenza pandemic would fit under the definition of a major disaster as written in the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:17:48 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-11-03-crsstaffordactflupan.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Trust for America's Health released a report titled Germs Go Global: Why Emerging Infectious Diseases Are a Threat to America. The report examines factors contributing to the rising threat of infectious diseases.
Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:49:54 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/2008-11-03-tfaheidthreatussecurity.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On October 21, 2008, the nonprofit health advocacy group, Trust for America's Health (TFAH), released a public health policy guide for the next Congress, president, and federal executive administration.
Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:56:01 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-10-27-tfahphrecomendnextadmin.html
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS announced plans to send U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff to new offices in China, India, Europe, and Latin America as part of efforts to "enhance the safety of imported food and medical products."
Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:17:30 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/countrmeasr_dev/2008/2008-10-20-fdaoverseas.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On September 23, 2008, American Health Information Community (AHIC) Successor, Inc. announced the appointment of 15 individuals from the healthcare and information technology communities to serve on its board of directors.
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:50:22 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/business_biosecurity/2008-10-06-ahicsuccessorgrp.html
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS announced that the dept. has called for 2 measures to prepare for an anthrax attack--issue kits containing antibiotics for postal workers and liability protections for private sector businesses engaged in some cntr. measures.
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:02:38 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/countrmeasr_dev/2008/2008-10-06-hhsprepanthrax.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Partnership for a Secure America released a study of U.S. efforts to prevent WMD terrorism, assigning the government a grade of C for its WMD prevention efforts and a grade of C- specifically for biological terrorism prevention.
Biosecurity Briefing: The government is recommending that children ages 6 months to 18 years be vaccinated against influenza--a contrast to recommendations of previous years, when the annual flu vaccine was recommended for children under the age of 5.
Biosecurity Briefing: SIGA Technologies, Inc., announced that NIAID and HHS BARDA awarded the pharmaceutical company a $55 million contract to fund the development of additional formulations and smallpox-related indications for its antiviral drug ST-246.
Biosecurity Briefing: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Catastrophic Events released a workshop summary entitled "Dispensing Medical Countermeasures for Public Health Emergencies."
Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:59:31 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-08-25-iomsumwkshpdispnsmedcntr.html
Biosecurity Briefing: DHS announced grants "to improve the nation's readiness, response and recovery capabilities for both natural and man-made emergencies." It also released its National Emergency Communications Plan on July 31, 2008.
Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:50:32 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-08-04-dhsprepgrantnatlemercom.html
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS and DHS released the final version of Guidance on Allocating and Targeting Pandemic Influenza Vaccine. This final document includes input from stakeholders and the public.
Biosecurity Briefing: The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled Emergency Preparedness: States Are Planning for Medical Surge, but Could Benefit from Shared Guidance for Allocating Scarce Medical Resources.
Biosecurity Briefing: On June 2, 2008, the United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) issued a press release announcing the dedication of its National Center for Medical Intelligence (NCMI) at Fort Detrick, Maryland.
Biosecurity Briefing: The FDA issued a news release announcing a change in the format of letters that are sent to pharmaceutical companies to inform them of the FDA's decision regarding licensure of pharmaceutical products.
Biosecurity Briefing: The HHS Agency for Healthcare, Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a report on the issues and resources associated with Home Healthcare During a Pandemic.
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS announced that the Annual Report to Congress on Project BioShield had been released. This Congressionally mandated report covers progress for the period from August 2006 through July 2007.
Biosecurity Briefing: On June 20, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for review and comment from the public.
Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:12:58 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-06-27-dhsdrftimpactnatlbioagro.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Roche U.S.A. announced the introduction of a flexible program to allow U.S. businesses to purchase and maintain access to their own stockpiles of the antiviral drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir) for use during an influenza pandemic.
Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:53:16 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-06-27-mkrtamifluprogcorpstock.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On June 11th, 2008, an Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee released a report entitled Initial Guidance for an Update of the National Vaccine Plan: A Letter Report to the National Vaccine Program Office.
Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:00:05 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-06-20-iomguidancenatlvacplan.html
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS held a meeting of the National Biodefense Science Board to discuss prep and planning issues related to at-risk populations and pan flu, consider issues related to med response and prep for rad and nuclear events.
Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:04:43 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-06-20-2ndnbsbmtghomestock.html
Biosecurity Briefing: AP reported that a new commission will analyze "the government's myriad [Weapons of Mass Destruction] WMD programs to counter nuclear, biological, and chemical arms" and "make recommendations on how to coordinate them."
Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:24:25 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-06-06-congresscreateswmdcom.html
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS Secy. Mike Leavitt announced that the agency is allocating nearly $1.1 billion for the FY2008 Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) and Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) cooperative agreements.
Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:10:59 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-06-06-hhs1billionphhospprep.html
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS issued a Notice of Availability of Draft Guidances to Assist in Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic. These new draft guidance documents are for review and comment by the public and "interested stakeholders."
Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:48:50 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-06-06-hhspanfludraftguide.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The State of Georgia recently passed the Corporate Good Samaritan Act, providing additional liability protection to businesses and nonprofit organizations when they perform "Good Samaritan" acts in times of emergency or crisis.
Fri, 23 May 2008 19:25:33 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/business_biosecurity/2008-05-23-stategoodsamlaw.html
Biosecurity Briefing: OSHA of the U.S. Department of Labor released proposed guidance on workplace stockpiling of facemasks and respirators for pandemic influenza and is seeking public comment.
Fri, 16 May 2008 19:32:26 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-05-16-oshapubcomntworkstckpile.html
Biosecurity Briefing: NRC Com. recommendations from its second review of proposed construction of the Natl. Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory (NEIDL), a National Institutes of Health-funded Biosaftey Level-4 laboratory at Boston University.
Mon, 12 May 2008 15:48:14 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/science_biosecurity/2008-05-09-nrccomcallsnihassessbsl4.html
Biosecurity Briefing: House Com. on Oversight and Government Reform held the first of a two part hearing to assess the impact of "Medicaid regulations on hospital emergency surge capacity and the ability of hospitals to respond to a mass casualty event."
Mon, 12 May 2008 15:44:43 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-05-09-housecomhospsurge.html
Biosecurity Briefing: CIDRAP reported that the HHS purchased $192.5 million worth of clade 2.2 H5N1 vaccine from sanofi pasteur. The purchase will provide 6.4 to 38.5 million doses of the vaccine to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).
Mon, 05 May 2008 16:20:01 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-05-02-hhsspends192mh5n1vaccine.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Department of Homeland Security FEMA issued a press release announcing the availability of "preliminary observations from national exercise TOP OFFICIALS 4 (TOPOFF 4)."
Biosecurity Briefing: On April 14, 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a press release naming Robin Robinson, Ph.D. as the first director of the Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority (BARDA).
Biosecurity Briefing: DHHS/ASPR has published the first in a planned series of playbooks addressing response to disasters and other large scale emergencies.
Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:18:53 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-03-28-aspr1stplaybook.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On March 17, 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued Pandemic Planning Update V, which outlines progress made in U.S. pandemic influenza planning.
Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:52:03 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-03-28-hhs5thpanplanupdate.html
Biosecurity Briefing: In January 2007, the CDC began a series of exercises to determine the types of challenges that may arise in the early stages of an influenza pandemic. CIDRAP News reported the CDC recently held the fourth exercise in this series.
Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:41:10 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-03-21-cdchhspanfluexercises.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Federal Guidance to Assist States in Improving State-Level Pandemic Influenza Operating Plans was released, detailing progress made by states as well as the need for better guidance from the U.S. Government.
Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:38:57 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-03-21-hhsguidestatepanfluop.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Institute of Medicine convened the "Workshop on Medical Countermeasures Dispensing." The meeting focused largely on business sector involvement in and solutions for countermeasures distribution.
Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:21:33 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-03-14-iomwrkshpmedcntrdispense.html
Biosecurity Briefing: NIH announced two new steps that the agency will take to address public safety concerns about the National Biocontainment Laboratory located at Boston University Medical Center.
Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:39:48 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/science_biosecurity/2008-03-14-nihentitiesbostonbiolab.html
Biosecurity Briefing: A study of the CDC MedKit concept demonstrated that pre-positioning caches of antibiotics in individual households could be an effective strategy to ensure public has access to medical countermeasures after a release of anthrax.
Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:14:59 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-03-14-medkitscntrdiststrategy.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The European Medicines Agency, equivalent of U.S. FDA, announced that it recommends "the authorization of...[Europe's] first 'pre-pandemic vaccine' for humans against influenza caused by the H5N1 virus."
Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:20:39 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/2008-03-07-1stprepanfluvaceulicense.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Calif. Dept of Public Health released its Standards and Guidelines for Healthcare Surge during Emergencies. They cover a multitude of difficult issues related to emergencies, with solutions and tools for a number of these issues.
Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:26:44 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/hosp_prep/2008-03-07cahealthcaresurgeguide.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Governor Schwarzenegger of California announced the creation of the first state cabinet-level office for volunteer management in the nation in an effort to "move civic engagement to the highest levels of state government."
Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:14:10 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/community_engage/2008-03-07-ca1stcabinetvolunteermgt.html
Biosecurity Briefing: CQ Politics reported that the HHS released a request for proposals (RFP) for development of a new anthrax vaccine. The RFP requires 25 million doses of a vaccine that can be administered in only three doses.
Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:57:04 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/countrmeasr_dev/2008/2008-03-07-hhsrfpanthraxvac.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The CDC released a report that evaluated, on a state-by-state basis (and the District of Columbia), the cumulative impact of the agency's Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreements.
Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:36:56 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-02-22-cdcreportstatesphp.html
Biosecurity Briefing: USDA OIG says USDA "has made significant progress in developing or revising policies and procedures to detect, contain, and eradicate highly pathogenic avian influenza," but problems remain with ability to manage, report outbreaks.
Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:14:37 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-02-15-usdaoigrecommendpanplan.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Dept of Homeland Security released the National Response Framework, which is intended to be "a guide to how the Nation conducts all-hazards response" to disaster management.
Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:26:36 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-01-25-dhsreleasenatlrespframe.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The ACLU identifies concerns about a perceived shift in pandemic planning strategy in the post-Sept 11 era which, according to the ACLU, has moved away from a public health focus and toward a law enforcement/nat'l security focus.
Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:30:03 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-01-18-acluadvocateschanges.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On October 5, 2007, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it would award contracts for trial implementation of the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN).
Fri, 12 Oct 2007 20:44:37 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/content/2007-10-12-hhsawardsmillionselechealthrecdemo.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The White House released its updated National Strategy for Homeland Security, which provides 4 broad goals for the country to organize around and outlines what it defines as the current threats "confronting the United States."
Fri, 12 Oct 2007 20:36:15 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/content/2007-10-12-whreleasesupdatednatlstrategy.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing addressing the lack of federal oversight of BSL-3 and BSL-4 lab facilities, where research is conducted on some of the most dangerous pathogens.
Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:51:02 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/content/2007-10-05-ushousehearingbiosafetylabs.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The GAO released a review of federal pandemic influenza preparedness activities entitled Influenza Pandemic: Further Efforts are Needed to Ensure Clearer Federal Leadership Roles and an Effective National Strategy.
Biosecurity Briefing: The House Committee on Homeland Security expressed disappointment regarding the pace with which the agency has moved toward the development and procurement of a recombinant protective antigen anthrax vaccine.
Biosecurity Briefing: On September 10, 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the Draft National Response Framework (NRF), which was developed to replace the National Response Plan.
Biosecurity Briefing: An August 2007 GAO report assessing Department of Homeland Security mission and management goals finds that there are variable rates of progress toward goals that are critical to the agency's effectiveness.
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS Secretary Leavitt announced that his department is making available an additional $75 million for "states, territories and four metropolitan areas to help strengthen their capacity to respond to a pandemic influenza outbreak."
Fri, 31 Aug 2007 19:02:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-08-31-hhsannouncesextra75milpanprep.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On June 28, 2007, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, announced the award of $430 million in grants to states, territories, and four major metropolitan areas to better prepare healthcare networks.
Biosecurity Briefing: Two articles in Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) analyze the medical and public health impacts of the SARS outbreak in Toronto and call into question the effectiveness of quarantine and restrictions on elective procedures.
Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:46:55 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/content/2007-06-22-analysistorontosarsquarantine.html
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced that the agency has established a public health advisory board to provide guidance on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. He also announced contracts for flu vaccine.
Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:36:01 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/content/2007-06-22-hhscbrnadvisorybrdvaxcontracts.html
Biosecurity Briefing: According to a March 24 Department of Defense (DoD) press release, the RAND Corporation delivered an assessment to the Pentagon on the department's response to three suspected anthrax incidents that occurred in March 2005.
Fri, 31 Mar 2006 16:22:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2006-03-31-pentagonreleasesreportonmar.html
