Homeland Secretary Jane Napolitano began her briefing this afternoon noting there has been “some confusion” about the difference between antivirals and vaccines. As she clarified, the nation has a stockpile of antivirals (which can be used to treat symptoms) that are now being dispatched to impacted states, while scientists are working to develop a vaccine (which could make people immune to the disease) that could potentially be used many months from now.

Why the confusion? Consider President Obama’s statement Tuesday morning:

“Yesterday, I also requested from Congress an immediate 1.5 billion (dollars) in emergency funding. This funding will ensure that we have adequate supplies of vaccines and the equipment to handle a potential outbreak. It will ensure that these vaccines and equipment get to where they need to go around the country, and it will provide for sufficient planning and preparation at the state and local levels.”

Not to parse the President’s language too closely, but he is clearly blurring the distinction between a vaccine and an antiviral – something that the DHS Secretary is now having to clean up. As Reuters reported, the “additional $1.5 billion would give the government ‘maximum flexibility’ as it fights the disease, supplementing antiviral stockpiles, adding medical equipment and starting preparations for a vaccine.” The $1.5 billion will not be used to distribute vaccines, despite the President’s statement.

To be clear: There is no current vaccine for the H1N1 virus. The government does have a healthy stockpile of antivirals (thanks to the Bush Administration’s pandemic planning), which this Administration is now positioning in impacted areas.

As I’ve written before, clear communications is vital in preventing pandemics. But the Administration has now had to correct language used by the President twice: First when he called the bug “swine flu”, and now when he’s confused vaccines with antivirals.

Tags: communications, disaster, obama, pandemic, White House