Avian flu vaccine approved

On Tuesday, a vaccine to protect humans against the H5N1 influenza virus became the first to win Food and Drug Administration approval. According to an Associated Press article, the vaccine would be used if the strain mutated into a form that spreads easily from person to person, sparking a pandemic. The approved vaccine, Sanofi Aventis SA, is being stockpiled by the U.S. government and is not available commercially.

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According to the AP article, FDA advisors pushed for approval for the vaccine, saying it "would be better than nothing." On Thursday, Maffett echoed the FDA advisors' rationale.

"At least now we have something they could give me in the event that (pandemic) would occur," Maffett said. "So, it's a hopeful sign. Before, there was nothing they could offer me other than anti-virals. At least now they have something they could offer our county."

According to the AP article, the government plans to stockpile enough of the vaccine for 20 million people, including emergency and health care workers. It would also be given to military personnel before they are deployed abroad.

Maffett said the amount of the vaccine that would be distributed to counties across the country, should a pandemic occur, would be based on population.

"Just how much we would get remains to be seen," she said.

Maffett said the approved vaccine could face some criticism of its effectiveness.

According to the AP article, studies have shown the two-shot series appears to provide protection to just 45 percent of adults who receive the highest dose. By comparison, the story said, seasonal flu shots usually protect more than 90 percent of young, healthy adults. Maffett said that despite the relatively low effectiveness of the bird flu vaccine, its approval is still an important breakthrough.

"People will fight you about the effectiveness and things like that about the vaccine," Maffett said, "but at least now we have something. Before, we had nothing."

Last summer, Maffett and several other Bourbon County officials formed a preparedness committee to start preparing for any flu outbreak that may hit. Since that time, Maffett said, the committee has reached out to several surrounding townships and rural communities, encouraging local residents to prepare themselves for any type of pandemic.

Committee member and Bourbon County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Laura Hyer said the committee's message to residents has been to prepare to take care of themselves in the event of any kind of disaster, such as a pandemic.

"The important thing for people to know is that they need to prepare to take care of themselves," Hyer said, "because if this were to happen, there would not be enough government officials to take care of everyone."

Maffett said the she has made recent trips to local businesses, asking them to make sure they have plans in place in case a pandemic should ever occur.

"We've been trying to help them be able to address any concerns their employees might have should something like a pandemic happen," Maffett said.

As ways of preparing, the committee is encouraging people to keep a supply of food, water, toilet articles and medications, as well as other essentials that will be needed, for up to two weeks. Should there be an outbreak, Hyer said, potential quarantine or voluntary inoculation orders could be given. And even if there never is a severe outbreak, those same supplies will be applicable in any emergency, including tornadoes and floods.

"If they are prepared to handle a pandemic," Hyer said, "they will be prepared for any type of disaster."

The committee, which has 12 members, was formed out of a the county's emergency preparedness council. That council meets once a month to discuss potential threats to the community and how they will be dealt with.

According to the AP, avian flu has infected around 300 people worldwide since it began ravaging poultry farms in Asia in 2003. Around half of those infected have died.