News Release

READOUT OF TODAY’S H1N1 SUMMIT WEBCAST

WASHINGTON—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan joined today with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Dr. Anne Schuchat to discuss H1N1 preparedness and answer questions from the public.

Dr. Schuchat and Secretary Sebelius outlined the four pillars of President Obama’s “National Framework for Response”—surveillance, community mitigation, vaccination, and communication—and detailed planning and preparedness efforts used by the federal government to facilitate these goals.

Secretary Napolitano highlighted the role DHS plays as federal coordinator during public health emergencies, particularly by working closely and communicating clearly with state and local first responders and emergency communicators during a health emergency.

Secretary Duncan and Secretary Sebelius stressed the federal government’s ongoing commitment to reach out to parents and the education community to help them prepare for the upcoming school year.

Information for parents, families and communities can be found at www.flu.gov.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last revised: August 04, 2009