Diary Prequel Package — page 222

lid220 H1N1 vaccine as pregnant women wait in line. The CDC is being blamed since they are responsible ultimately for distribution. In fact, CDC takes orders from States and locals and then distributes the vaccines through a contract with McKesson Corp, which sends to over 150,000 distribution sites within the states according to how the cities and states decide to distribute based on their best judgment. Since the Wall Street firms have large clinics, they can easily distribute vaccine to their pregnant employees and those with underlying conditions. It was Mayor Bloomberg's choice, but the image did not look good and the CDC took flak for it. Still getting massive (couple of times daily) media exposure. Media interest paused for a few days due to the terrible tragedy at Fort Hood (Texas) army base where a crazed Army MD psychiatrist who trained at USUHS and Walter Reed and is a Muslim (born in USA) went on a shooting rampage and killed 13 and wounded 30 soldiers getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan. Am extremely busy and very fatigued! Nov. 10, 2009 - CDC and HHS still getting hammered by the press because of the delay in availability of vaccine. Press frenzy continues. I am coming across relatively unscathed because of my long-standing credibility. Briefed the editorial board of the Washington Times yesterday and today my picture was on the front page of the Washington Times. Also, continue on TV and NPR. Nov. 11, 2009 - Pressure and press frenzy continues. Hurricane Ida flooding the midAtlantic. Been raining here with no real hurricane for days. Pre-taped the "Power Player" segment for FOX News that will show on Sunday - 11-15-09. Dinner at Richard Ben-Veniste and Donna grill's home. Present were: Gerry and Ellen Sigal, and 2 friends of Richard's and Donna from LA. Terry and Denise - environmentalists. Nov. 12, 2009 - Two day of Science Management Working Group (SMWG) of which I am a member of the Intramural and Clinical Center Subcommittee. This evolved out of the NIH Reauthorization Act of 2006 to look at the structure and function of the NIH. Chaired by Norman Augustine. On MSNBC and Fox News today. Nov. 13, 2009 - More of the same. Things getting very testy with the press and the Republicans blasting the Administration as having another "Katrina" with the H1N1 flu. Still long lines and contradictory issues of 1⁄2 people do not want to vaccine because that think it is not safe and 1⁄2 are waiting on line for it. Lose-lose from a PR standpoint. Picture on page B1 of the Post (Metro Section) for the NIH-DC AIDS initiative. On NBC Nightly News. Nice dinner at Ambassador Nancy Brinker's home (Ritz-Carlton Apartments in Georgetown in honor of Mark Dybul. Nancy was Chief of White House protocol under Pres. George W. Bush. Beautiful Apartment overlooking Georgetown and the Potomac