Preparing for Pandemic Flu

Since 2006, Congress has allocated millions of dollars to preparations for an influenza pandemic. While preparation for a pandemic has improved somewhat, such preparation needs to occur in ways that are politically sustainable and remain useful even if a pandemic does not occur. First, Americans need to accept that we can’t “stop” a pandemic; we can only lessen its effects. Second, we need to acknowledge in our policies that the best response to such disasters is a decentralized one.