New Jersey has been awarded nearly $40 million in federal funding to enhance efforts on a state and local level to respond to H1N1 Influenza this fall, Health and Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard announced today.

“New Jersey is ready and prepared to handle any resurgence of H1N1,” Governor Jon S. Corzine said. “The Department of Health and Senior Services continues to work closely with health officials at all levels of government, schools, physicians, hospitals and our business leadership in order to respond effectively.  New Jersey has been a leader, and we will continue our preparedness efforts into the flu season – adapting plans and programs when necessary.”   

“Governor Corzine and I are grateful that the Obama administration recognizes the importance of planning for the resurgence of H1N1 Influenza," Commissioner Howard said. “The funding is a tremendous benefit as New Jersey continues its work to ensure that we are as prepared as possible to deal with H1N1 Influenza.”

The funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is part of a national effort to coordinate and strengthen the response to H1N1 Influenza at all levels of government—state, county and local health and education agencies and in the private sector— and with the department’s health care and business partners.

“By working with our partners, we have been able to determine the best way to fund our H1N1 preparedness efforts,” Commissioner Howard said in discussing the funding at today’s Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Summit at the New Brunswick Hyatt Regency.

          About $20 million of the funding has been designated for county and local public health agencies to be used for vaccination planning, antiviral distribution and community mitigation measures.

An additional $9 million will be awarded to New Jersey hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Satellite Emergency Departments. This funding will be used to enhance the capabilities of the healthcare workforce to administer H1N1 vaccine and address other associated pandemic preparedness activities.

Also, $2 million will be awarded to five regional health care facilities to purchase personal protective equipment, including masks, gloves, surgical gowns and supplies. This equipment will be available to healthcare facilities within each region.

The state used nearly $7 million of the federal funding for response, vaccination planning, antiviral distribution and a public education campaign. 

The state will also purchase personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves for emergency responders. An additional $1.8 million is earmarked for enhancement of its Public Health and Environmental Laboratories (PHEL) and surveillance capabilities.

There is $1 million in funding that is being kept in reserve for emerging issues that may arise during the H1N1 response.

The funding was also used to hold the five-part Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Summit which concludes today. The goal—throughout the summit—has been to enhance pandemic preparedness across government, in the private sector and throughout the healthcare system. Summit participants included representatives from local health departments, local and state Offices of Emergency Management, Federally Qualified Health Centers, hospitals, the Department of Health and Senior Services and other cabinet-level agencies.

The $40 million in federal funding includes $10 million in preparedness funds previously announced in July.

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