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Pandemic Planning Toolkit A resource to assist your organization in preparing for pandemic influenza

TAMIFLU® (oseltamivir phosphate) has been studied only in strains of influenza that were circulating at the time. The magnitude of effect of TAMIFLU in treating and preventing novel strains of influenza, such as those that may be involved in a pandemic, cannot be predicted.

How are other organizations preparing?

Preparation of Organizations Nationwide

  • 66% of organizations surveyed in November 2005 said they have not adequately planned to protect themselves24
  • 18% of attendees at a February 2006 pandemic conference had a pandemic plan in place25
  • Organizations who have pandemic plans generally address issues of26:
  • Business continuity: impact of absenteeism on operations, technology, travel
  • Awareness/Education: employee communication, educational materials
  • Prevention: promoting good health habits, procuring supplies
  • Treatment: purchasing antivirals for appropriate employees (For more information, see Section 5: TAMIFLU® [oseltamivir phosphate] Supply and Ordering)

" U.S. Treasury Department Recommends that Businesses Take a More Decisive Role"

In late June 2006, the deputy assistant Treasury secretary for critical infrastructure and protection warned that businessses need to go further in pandemic preparedness. It's not enough to simply move employees to facilities in other areas. Contingency plans should also include measures to stem the spread of bird flu within a department or business by adequately stocking masks, gloves, antiviral agents and other gear, as well as permitting telecommuting. The deputy assistant went on to state "We also believe it is vital to reach beyond Washington, D.C. and conduct an outreach campaign to carry the message for pandemic preparedness to all parts of the country."

Source: Wall Street Journal, June 29th, 2006



How Some of the World's bigger
Organizations are Preparing
Company
Illustrative Flu Pandemic
Preparation Measures
HSBC27
  • Developing "Remote Working" plans to operate under a flu pandemic scenario that would keep as many as 50% of its employees from being at work
Deutsche Bank
  • Taking measures to ensure that employees in infected zones don't transmit the disease to coworkers and preparing for the economic shocks triggered by a global pandemic
Microsoft28
  • Issued all 1,200 employees at its Mountain View campus a bottle of hand sanitizer, with web link for info on avian flu. Installed hand sanitizer dispensers throughout its buildings
Boeing26
  • Assembled a task force to examine business continuity issues and worker-protection plans
  • Assessed minimum workers to conduct core activities. Estimates non attendance rates of up to 30%
  • Exploring options to minimize operational disruptions (e.g., cross-training, reconfiguring shifts, virtual work)
Virgin Atlantic26
  • Purchased 10,000 courses of TAMIFLU for employees, who frequently travel internationally
 

Learn how you can help protect your organization.
 
Learn what role TAMIFLU could play in a pandemic.

 
FOOTNOTE
24. Business Preparations for Pandemic Flu. Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. 2006.
25. Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy. 2006 Summit Coverage: Conference poll:18% of businesses have pandemic plan. February 15, 2006. Available at: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/biz-plan/news/feb1506survey.html.
26. Ruiz G. Business Continuity Plans for an Avian Flu Pandemic Largely Off Workforce Radar. Workforce Management. December 12, 2005.
27. HSBC warns on possible bird flu toll. Financial Times. January 10, 2006.
28. KNTV-TV (NBC). Bay area companies prepare for bird flu (press release). February 14, 2006. Available at: http://www.nbc11.com/print/7023773/detail.html. Accessed April 20, 2006.
Indications

TAMIFLU is indicated for the treatment of uncomplicated influenza caused by viruses types A and B in patients 1 year and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 2 days.

TAMIFLU is also indicated for the prophylaxis of influenza in patients 1 year and older.

TAMIFLU is not a substitute for early and annual vaccination as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

Prescribers should consider available information on influenza drug susceptibility patterns and treatment effects when deciding whether to use TAMIFLU.

Safety Information

There is no evidence for efficacy against any illness caused by agents other than influenza types A and B.

Treatment efficacy in subjects with chronic cardiac and/or respiratory disease has not been established. No difference in the incidence of complications was observed between the treatment and placebo groups in this population.

No information is available regarding treatment of influenza in patients at imminent risk of requiring hospitalization.

Efficacy of TAMIFLU has not been established in immunocompromised patients.

Safety and efficacy of repeated treatment or prophylaxis courses have not been studied.

Influenza can be associated with a variety of neurologic and behavioral symptoms, which can include events such as hallucinations, delirium and abnormal behavior, in some cases resulting in fatal outcomes. These events may occur in the setting of encephalitis or encephalopathy but can occur without obvious severe disease. There have been postmarketing reports (mostly from Japan) of delirium and abnormal behavior leading to injury, and in some cases resulting in fatal outcomes, in patients with influenza who were receiving TAMIFLU. Because these events were reported voluntarily during clinical practice, estimates of frequency cannot be made but they appear to be uncommon based on TAMIFLU usage data. These events were reported primarily among pediatric patients and often had an abrupt onset and rapid resolution. The contribution of TAMIFLU to these events has not been established. Patients with influenza should be closely monitored for signs of abnormal behavior. If neuropsychiatric symptoms occur, the risks and benefits of continuing treatment should be evaluated for each patient.

In postmarketing experience, rare cases of anaphylaxis and serious skin reactions, including toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and erythema multiforme, have been reported with TAMIFLU.

The most common adverse events reported >1% of patients treated with TAMIFLU and more commonly than in patients treated with placebo are:

  • Treatment of adult and pediatric patients - nausea, vomiting.
  • Prophylaxis of adult and pediatric patients - nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.

Vaccination is considered the first line of defense against influenza.

Please see TAMIFLU full Prescribing Information for additional safety information.
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