Thanks to the assets and strategy developed during the past decade, the United States has thus far effectively managed the swine flu (H1N1) threat. The resources, plans, and authority now at the federal government's disposal have enabled it to respond to a major health crisis that caused more serious problems in other countries. The Bush administration left a robust toolkit for the Obama team, which for its part has used it well. Cooperation among federal, state, local, private, and other important actors has been effective in distributing public face masks, implementing mass inoculation campaigns, and taking other timely responses.
At present, the government and the nation's scientists are in a race to see whether they can mass-produce and distribute a safe and effective vaccine for the H1N1 influenza virus before the flu season starts in the northern hemisphere this fall. And we have a good chance of winning. ...
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