Leavitt says getting vaccines into the arms of people is a challenge

[Guest guest]

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4307462

Leavitt says US will likely deal with some strain of bird flu

(Washington-AP) January 1, 2006 - The nation's top health official thinks

some kind of bird flu will eventually reach the United States.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt tells CNN's " Late Edition "

that health officials can't predict when that might happen.

Leavitt says the $3.8 billion measure that President Bush signed last week

is a good preparation step.

That bill helps prepare for a possible outbreak and provides liability

protections for flu drug manufacturers.

Leavitt says there's a limit to the amount of vaccine that can be made, and

there are distribution problems. He says getting vaccines into the arms of

people is a challenge that shows why state and local preparedness is

important.

Posted 10:35pm by Graeme <mailto:gmoore@...>