In speaking with NPR, senior Obama advisor David Axelrod admitted to serious mistakes in the White House’s handling of H1N1. Namely, it is the White House’s assessment that they overpromised on the country’s flu readiness and vaccine availability for H1N1. While offering a half-hearted apology, Axelrod also attempted to blame the shortage on information that was provided to them (presumably by vaccine manufacturers).
The White Houses’s reaction doesn’t seem be grounded in planet earth. When the CDC gave initial strains to vaccine manufacturers, it didn’t take for nearly all of the manufacturers. So, they needed to do it over again – a delay by the CDC of several weeks. Vaccine manufacturers had been advising the White House on production delays since August while the White House continued its overly optimistic assessments.
Overall, I think the CDC and the Federal Government has done a really good job counseling on flu prevention and basic sanitation. I think the CDC has done a pretty poor job in managing the vaccine distribution process. And I think HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has done a pitiful job in managing the crisis overall and bringing the full resources of the Federal Government to the crisis. It took President Obama over 9 months to recognize the public health crisis and to become personally involved in the issue.
If the White House wants to take ownership for its failures in dealing with H1N1, I’d welcome that honesty. We’re still in the middle of the crisis and, by acknowledging it’s many failures, the Obama Administration could really turn the tide in this crisis. But it takes a humble nature and a willingness to admit mistakes and a the kind of leadership to make changes – all have been lacking from the Obama Administration. It would seem that the White House is destined to make this crisis worse before it gets better.
Background:
NPR
The White Houses’s reaction doesn’t seem be grounded in planet earth. When the CDC gave initial strains to vaccine manufacturers, it didn’t take for nearly all of the manufacturers. So, they needed to do it over again – a delay by the CDC of several weeks. Vaccine manufacturers had been advising the White House on production delays since August while the White House continued its overly optimistic assessments.
Overall, I think the CDC and the Federal Government has done a really good job counseling on flu prevention and basic sanitation. I think the CDC has done a pretty poor job in managing the vaccine distribution process. And I think HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has done a pitiful job in managing the crisis overall and bringing the full resources of the Federal Government to the crisis. It took President Obama over 9 months to recognize the public health crisis and to become personally involved in the issue.
If the White House wants to take ownership for its failures in dealing with H1N1, I’d welcome that honesty. We’re still in the middle of the crisis and, by acknowledging it’s many failures, the Obama Administration could really turn the tide in this crisis. But it takes a humble nature and a willingness to admit mistakes and a the kind of leadership to make changes – all have been lacking from the Obama Administration. It would seem that the White House is destined to make this crisis worse before it gets better.
Background: NPR