Priority Setting for Pandemic Influenza: An Analysis of National Preparedness Plans

October 2006 | Volume 3 | Issue 10 | e436 Recognizing the potential severe impact of pandemic infl uenza, the World Health Organization (WHO) urges every country to develop or maintain an upto-date national infl uenza preparedness plan, and provides guidance on plan content [1]. WHO guidance focuses on numerous issues, from surveillance and communications to prioritization of vaccine. Despite the perceived imminence of this threat, WHO estimated that as of December 2005, only 40 countries had developed written plans [2]. Among these plans, there was a great deal of variation with respect to comprehensiveness, quality, and stage of completion [3].