[EQ] Pandemic Influenza Planning in the United States from a Health Disparities Perspective

Pandemic Influenza Planning in the United States from a Health Disparities Perspective

Philip Blumenshine,*¹ Arthur Reingold,† Susan Egerter,‡ Robin Mockenhaupt,§ Paula Braveman,‡
and James Marks§
*Weill/Cornell Medical College, Ithaca, New York, USA; †University of California, Berkeley, California, USA; ‡University of California,
San Francisco, California, USA;  and §Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Emerging  Infection Diseases -  Volume 14, Number 5 –May 2008

Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/5/709.htm

 "…..We explored how different socioeconomic and racial/ethnic groups in the United States might fare in an influenza pandemic on the basis of social factors that shape exposure, vulnerability to influenza virus, and timeliness and adequacy of treatment.

We discuss policies that might differentially affect social groups' risk for illness or death. Our purpose is not to establish the precise magnitude of disparities likely to occur; rather, it is to call attention to avoidable disparities that can be expected in the absence of systematic attention to differential social risks in pandemic preparedness plans. Policy makers at the federal, state, and local levels should consider potential sources of socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities during a pandemic and formulate specific plans to minimize these disparities…."

 

Public Response to Community Mitigation Measures for Pandemic Influenza

Robert J. Blendon,* Lisa M. Koonin,† John M. Benson,* Martin S. Cetron,† William E. Pollard,† Elizabeth W. Mitchell,
† Kathleen J. Weldon,* and Melissa J. Herrmann‡
*Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; †Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and
‡International Communications Research, Media, Pennsylvania, USA
Emerging  Infection Diseases -  Volume 14, Number 5 –May 2008

Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/5/778.htm

"……We report the results of a national survey conducted to help public health officials understand the public's response to community mitigation interventions for a severe outbreak of pandemic influenza. Survey results suggest that if community mitigation measures are instituted, most respondents would comply with recommendations but would be challenged to do so if their income or job were severely compromised.

 

The results also indicate that community mitigation measures could cause problems for persons with lower incomes and for racial and ethnic minorities. Twenty-four percent of respondents said that they would not have anyone available to take care of them if they became sick with pandemic influenza. Given these results, planning and public engagement will be needed to encourage the public to be prepared…"

 

 

 

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