The following information was released June 4th by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO):

NACCHO continues to advocate on behalf of funding for the local health department response to the H1N1 influenza. On June 2, President Obama sent a request to Congress for an additional $2 billion to enhance the nation’s capability to respond to the potential spread of the outbreak. NACCHO and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) have communicated jointly to policymakers that up to $3 billion would be needed by state and local health departments for a 12 week response, not including the cost of vaccines, vaccine administration, antivirals or death management. In addition, NACCHO and ASTHO estimate that $9 billion would be needed to administer two doses of vaccine to the entire U.S. population at $15 per dose. Click here to read the letter sent to Congress by NACCHO and ASTHO.

Congress is currently making decisions about the final funding level in the emergency supplemental spending bill. We are reaching out to NACCHO members in key districts to deliver the message to their Members of Congress that support of local health departments to respond to H1N1 influenza is essential to safeguarding the public’s health. We will continue to notify you as future developments occur.

View all press releases on our News page.