Taking on the Flu

With the flu season fast approaching, President Obama faces one of his first tests of national proportions. While there is a vaccine available for H1N1, its abundance was hugely overestimated by the national government. The questions the Cheif Executive now must answer are these: what is the president's role in the face of a possible epidemic? and, how prepared should he be?
Mr. Obama has certainly done his research. Sitting down with those who had seen this all before, former White House officials from President Ford's administration who also faced a possible epidemic in the 70s, Obama and his team discussed how best to combat the flu, and the implications that may result from being either ill prepared, or, surprisingly, too prepared.
During Ford's presidency, another dangerous flu was said to be on its way to the United States, and the Ford did everything in its power to combat the disease that, in reality, never arrived. While this was a minor political embarrassment that made Ford the object of criticism, Dr. David Matthews, former-president Ford's health secretary, advises President Obama that it is better to be safe than sorry; "You've got to be willing to take the criticisms for being overprepared, because there's no defense for being underprepared."
Like Ford did in the 70s, Obama has already taken steps to raise awareness of the approaching peril, such as the website, flu.gov, his declaration of a "national emergency" just last weekend, and even the use of Sesame Street characters on television to teach about hygeine that prevents the spread of germs to those who are most vulnerable, children. But despite his behind-the-scenes preparation and research, Obama himself has kept slightly detatched from the issue, announcing the state of emergency in writing and having his Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, take much of the brunt for the vaccine shortage.
Perhaps the distance from the issue is an effort to protect his political reputation should something go wrong. Unfortunately, Obama's reputation is not all that is at stake as he decides how to respond to the threat of the deadly virus.

Article: "Vaccine Shortage is Political Test for White House" by Sheryl Gay Stolberg
(New York Times)