(CNN) - A Republican and a Democratic senator pledged their support Sunday if President Barack Obama asks for further resources to respond to the H1N1 flu outbreak.
Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the chamber's top Republican, and Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, told the ABC program "This Week" the government should have whatever resources it needs to deal with the global H1N1 pandemic.
Obama declared a national emergency Friday to enable his government to respond more quickly to the spreading flu virus.
The move allows Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to temporarily waive or modify some requirements in order to help hospitals and other health care facilities enact emergency plans to deal with the outbreak.
Since the H1N1 flu pandemic began in April, millions of people in the United States have been infected, at least 20,000 have been hospitalized and more than 1,000 have died, according to Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC said 16.1 million doses of H1N1, or swine flu, vaccine had been made by Friday - 2 million more than two days earlier. About 11.3 million of those had been distributed throughout the United States, Frieden said.
However, Frieden acknowledged that manufacturing delays have hindered the availability of vaccine, saying: "We are nowhere near where we thought we would be."
How many babies murdered by abortion during the same time frame as the swine flu?
I would like to know what requirements are being waived as a result of this declaration. I haven't seen that covered.
How many idiot anti-choice voters out there have elected Republicans who have fleeced our country?
Thank you, Mr. President, for making the availability of H1N1 flu vaccine a priority. Keep up the good work!
Just another failed example of the Obama Administrations ability to do the job they have been elected to do. How long have we all been hearing this H1N1 flu scare, 9-months or more? How long does it take to organize at the upper levels of our Government to assure enough vaccine for our Nation, monkey with a football!?
I believe that Liberal Democrats just want everyone that doesn't follow the stooge like them to get the flu and die...
Obama will force you to get shots and will send out his SS Troopers and the Military to make sure.
Being that the Obama Admin couldn't even manage cash for clunkers and the H1 virus epidemic---sure, why don't we put them in charge of health care!!
When Bush was in office--he had millions of vials of vaccine for the avian flu in storage.
He was prepared/ready if the avian flu would have reached epidemic levels in our country.
The millions of vials of vaccine that Bush had in storage-–was used in order to provide some of the vaccine for the H1.
And, how exactly did Obama handle this situation?? Did he vote "present" on this issue as well??
@ Annie why are u Republicant's always bringing up the same topic about abortion but are so willing to fight and kill in war....please tell me the difference both are wrong if you really want to debate. Stop wasting so much time and realize everyone will be judged not by you and me but by the Almighty....enough said.
ii know wy the Republicans dont want Public Option on Healthcare .the will loose a lot of Money in to the Billions .wy do you think the say no to everything ?in germany we dont have any Problem with Public Health ins.we had at for years the Goverment takes good caer of the German People ,i know so ,i was born an raised there .i just dont undestand that the American People trust the so called Republican . the are the biggest liars an thief in America ,i trust Obama with my Life .he is the most carring President for the People i ever seen .so i can only say to the American People wake up an smell the Roses.its Busch an Cheney got you in the Mess you are ,not Obama
I read where his kids got the vacinne...How about the rest of us?????
Well Good For The Republicans Who Support Our President On Something. They Have Chosen Thus Far To Agree With Him On Very Little Else.
How come no one is talking about the fact that this "swine-flu" is really a man-made virus, a hybrid of sorts, if you know anything about it, that was created during a previous Administration, and that to call it "swine flu" is technically not correct anyway?
I don't know if this is applicable to all 50 states, but am assuming it is. I saw the doctor the other day and he told me that the government is sponsoring the H1N1 vaccine, and they are not allowed to charge any more than a penny for it. Of course, they don't have the vaccine, since it's in such short supply. But this is good information to have for anyone interested; that is if they can find someone who has it.
I'd sure would like the same health care that members of Congress get as well. I'll take it and pass on the H1N1 vaccine.
Your late with trying to get the vaccine out. The people who want it can't get it. How long do we have to wait, maybe I can get it for next flu season.