Diary Prequel Package — page 210

undetected mild cases in Mexico and so we are only seeing the severe cases and are assuming that the disease is more sever in Mexico. As of May 15, there have been 4714 confirmed and probable case in the USA in 46 states with 173 hospitalizations and 5 deaths. Internationally, there have been 7520 confirmed cases in 34 countries. Clearly this is different from the "swine flu" situation in 1976 where the virus infected 230 soldiers in Fort Dix, NJ with one death, but the infection never spread outside of Fort Dix. This has important implications in the intense planning that is going on in HHS regarding the production and administration of a vaccine. I am part of the "vaccine team" at HHS made up of Bruce Gellin, Robin Robinson of HHS's BARDA, me, Jesse Goodman and Josh Scharfstein of FDA with input from CDC (Rich Besser et al.). We are being very careful to uncouple the decisions about going ahead to produce the vaccine for administration next Fall and Winter from the decision to actually administer the vaccine next Fall and Winter. We will have to observe what the virus does this summer here and in the Southern Hemisphere (their winter flu season). This drama is eerily unfolding like the situation in 1976. Thomas Frieden, Commissioner of NYC Dept. of Health, announced as Obama choice for CDC Director. Interesting in that many people thought that the choice would be Rich Besser because of the amazing public exposure he was getting, and the very nice job he did, during the flu crisis (every major network every day). Just goes to show you - sic transit glory or welcome to Washington! May 27, 2009 - Went to Sons of Italy Awards Gala at the National Building Museum. Sat next to VP Joe Biden and his granddaughter Naomi who goes to Sidwell Friends. Also at table was his wife Jill (whose father is a Sicilian). Had nice conversations over the evening with the VP - very amiable person with whom I have interacted several times in the past re: anthrax, AIDS, SARS bird flu, etc. He was very complimentary to me during his speech. He received the NELA Award for Leadership and Achievement in Public Service (I received the NELA award for science in 1992). NELA = National Education Leadership Award. May 28 - June 2, 2009 - Continued activity working with HHS on flu preparedness. Little press associated with this and Jenny Backus has not been heard from for weeks since the press stuff has calmed down. Tom Freiden has been appointed as CDC Director and so Richard Besser is completely out of the picture. He did a good job, but see above regarding Jenny Backus. It is too bad, but my experience with Backus has seriously soured me on HHS and everyone there. They seem to have no idea who I am and certainly do not treat me with the reverence and respect that all other HHS people have for the past 25 years. I do not think that Sebelius even knows my history and who I am. June 3-4, 2009 - Received honorary Doctorate of Science at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. Wonderful honor. Other awardees were Steven Chu (Secretary of Energy and the Commencement Speaker), Pedro Almodovar (Famous Spanish filmmaker), author Joan Didion, religious historian Wendy Doniger, legal philosopher Ronald Dworkin, anthropologist Sarah Hrdy, engineer Robert Langer, musician Wynton Marsalis, and political scientist Sidney Verba. The night before the ceremonies (June 3)